New business areas and urban infill development drive Kuopio’s 2027 Planning Programme

The City of Kuopio’s 2027 Land Use Planning Programme supports the Thriving Kuopio Strategy (Kukoistava Kuopio). The programme places a strong emphasis on business-related land use planning, infill development, and strengthening the vitality of the city centre. It promotes the balanced development of the city centre, residential areas, and rural districts while ensuring an adequate and diverse supply of sites for businesses, housing, and services.

The objective is to create a sustainable urban structure that advances carbon neutrality, climate change adaptation, and the conservation of biodiversity.

One of the most significant projects in the coming years is the Kuopio Master Plan 2050, which will guide land use and development across the entire city well into the future.

The Urban Structure Committee will review the planning programme at its meeting on 28 October 2026, after which it will proceed to the City Board and City Council for decision-making.

Diversifying the supply of business sites and strengthening city centre vitality

The goal of business-oriented land use planning is to increase and diversify the supply of business sites while ensuring sufficient availability for future needs. Planning efforts are focused on new business areas being developed in southern Kuopio as well as the further development of existing business areas in Sorsasalo and Kelloniemi. Approximately 65 hectares of new business site capacity is expected to be completed in 2027, followed by around 240 hectares in 2028.

To enhance the attractiveness and competitiveness of the city centre, a new City Centre Development Plan will be prepared, supported by a city centre transport system plan and a parking study for the core urban area. The most significant project for developing retail and services in the city centre is the zoning amendment for the western edge of the market square.

Infill development near services and public transport

Housing development will focus primarily on infill construction. The objective is to create a denser urban structure around existing services and within areas served by high-quality public transport. The planned development areas are based on an infill development study carried out along the city’s core public transport network.

New projects to be launched include zoning for detached and semi-detached housing in Särkiniemi, as well as the planning of Marikonranta and Savisaari in Savilahti. Planning in Savilahti will advance from an updated master plan and architectural competition to detailed local zoning.

Detailed plans expected to be completed next year are estimated to enable enough new residential floor area for approximately 3,300 residents. This includes housing opportunities for around 800 residents in low-density housing, including approximately 60 detached-house plots.

New building sites for rural areas

The partial master plans for Nilsiä town centre, Suovu–Palonen, and Kurkimäki–Vehmasmäki–Pellesmäki are expected to proceed to the approval stage next year. Together, these plans will enable approximately 580 new building sites for permanent housing.

The detailed local plan for the village centre of Karttula is scheduled for completion in 2027. A new project to prepare a detailed local plan for the village centre of Maaninka will also be launched. In the coming years, the City aims to initiate detailed planning projects in Riistavesi, Nilsiä, and Juankoski as well.