Development programmes

Kuopio Plus – the vibrant heart of Kuopio

Kuopio Plus is the city’s strategic flagship project. It is one step toward the city’s vision: Thriving Kuopio – sustainable growth and vitality.

Kuopio Plus strengthens the attractiveness and vitality of the Kuopio region while creating sustainable well-being and smooth everyday life for its residents. Extending to 2040, this urban development project acts as a bridge between the city and its partners. Its impact is created by aligning the goals and actions of the city and its collaborators both in the city centre and surrounding districts.

The Kuopio Plus project area forms the heart of Kuopio, located in the city’s central urban zone. It covers the Neulamäki – City Centre – Kelloniemi and Puijonlaakso – City Centre – Siikaniemi corridors. Together, these areas form the core of housing, services, and urban vitality development. Around 40 % of the city’s population lives in this area, and approximately 65 % of Kuopio’s jobs are located there.

The vision of Kuopio Plus is to develop the area into the beating heart of Kuopio, generating added value widely across the region. The project is linked to the Kuopio urban region MAL agreement for 2024–2035 as well as the Kuopio and Southern Siilinjärvi urban structure plan 2040.

Viksu Kuopio

Viksu Kuopio brings together everything that is done in Kuopio for the climate and for the sustainable use of resources. Kuopio favours the use of renewable energy, smart transportation, and circular economy. We take care of the region’s biodiversity.

Kuopio aims for carbon neutrality by 2030 as well as zero waste and a globally sustainable consumption level by 2050.

The three main objectives are further specified through the following key targets:

• Kuopio aims to be carbon neutral by 2030 at the latest, with a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2030 compared to 2007 levels.
• The amount of household waste in the Kuopio region will decrease, and the recycling rate will increase to reach 65% by 2030.
• The consumption-based carbon footprint will be reduced by half by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.