regional land use plan – strategic land-use plan
The regional plan is a strategic land-use plan for more than one municipality in accordance in cooperation in cooperation with the Land Use Act. The regional plan sets out the principles of land use and urban structure and identifies areas necessary for the development of the region. Territorial reserves shall be allocated only in so far as and to the extent necessary to meet national or regional objectives concerning the use of areas or to coordinate the use of areas in more than one municipality. The regional plan promotes the strategic development of the region.
Land Use Act and the Legal Effect of the regional land use plan
The regional land-use planning is governed by Chapter 4 of the Land Use Act (Sections 25 to 34). The Regional Assembly is responsible for drawing up the regional plan (Section 26) and the regional plan is approved by the highest decision-making body of the Regional Assembly (Section 31), the Regional Assembly. According to Section 12(6) of the Rules of Procedure of the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region (1 January 2023), the regional planning is guided by the Regional Board, which decides on the initiation of the plan and on the responses to the statements, opinions and reminders received in connection in cooperation in cooperation with the drafting. The key issues of regional planning and municipal land use planning are discussed in the Regional Planning Cooperation Group of Northern Ostrobothnia, which consists of municipal land use experts.
The main legal effect of the regional plan is that it serves as a guideline when drawing up or amending the municipal master plan and tnational and regional partnership plan and when otherwise taking measures to organise the use of the areas. When planning and deciding on the implementation of measures concerning the use of areas, the authority shall take into account the regional land use plan, endeavour to promote the implementation of the plan and consider that the measures do not hinder the implementation of the plan. The regional plan may restrict construction in specified areas. Due to the hierarchy of the Finnish land use planning system, the municipal land-use plan may deviate from the regional plan by means of more detailed studies and an impact assessment, but may not conflict in cooperation in cooperation with the key objectives and principles of the regional plan or make its implementation more difficult. The reform of the Land Use and Building Act has progressed, the title was changed to the Land Use Act at the beginning of 2026, and the new Land Use Act will be submitted to Parliament in 2026. More information the Ministry of the Environment.
Totalthe regional plan Renewal completed, regional plan for the energy and climate phase in progress
The comprehensive regional plan for Northern Ostrobothnia was revised in 2009-2018 on the basis of phased regional planning (section 27 of the Act on Regional Planning), the reform work became legally effective in January 2022 (Supreme Administrative Court KHO 2022:11). The regional land use targets (MAT) for Northern Ostrobothnia, drawn up as the basis for the renewal of the regional plan, were approved (in the the Board of the Regional Assembly on 10 October 2011, section 240. The objectives were drawn up in interactive cooperation in cooperation in cooperation with the county's municipalities, sub-regions and authorities. The starting point for the objectives has been, on the one hand, the national land use objectives (VAT, into force on 1 March 2009) and, on the other hand, the objectives of the regional plan based on the region's own special needs, as well as the current regional plan and the objectives defined in connection in cooperation in cooperation with its preparation. In addition, the regional programme and the county's long-term strategies, such as climate, energy and transport strategies, were taken into account. in cooperation in cooperation with the finality of the third phase regional plan, the total regional plan for Northern Ostrobothnia has been completely updated, and the regional plans for Kainuu and Central Ostrobothnia have been repealed for the regions of Vaala and Himanka. the Energy and Climate Phase of Northern Ostrobothnia The drafting started in autumn 2021 and was due to be completed in 2024, but due to the extensive feedback from the public proposal phase, the approval process will be postponed to spring 2025.
Existing regional land use plans
In Northern Ostrobothnia, phases 1-3 and the Hanhikivi nuclear power region plan are in force. The phase regional plans cancel out the 2003 regional plan for the themes discussed, as well as the Kainuu and Central Ostrobothnia regional plans previously in force in Vaala and Himanga.
There are currently four regional plans in force in Northern Ostrobothnia:
- The Pyhäjoki nuclear power plant project Hanhikivi Nuclear Power Regional Land Use Plan, approved by the Regional Assembly on 22 February 2010 and confirmed by decision of the Ministry of the Environment (YM2/5222/2010) of 26 August 2010, final decision of 21 September 2011 (KHO).
- Northern Ostrobothnia the Comprehensive Regional Land Use Plan The three-stage reform began. 1st phase regional land use plan, approved on 2 December 2013 and confirmed by the Ministry of the Environment on 23 November 2015 (YM1/5222/2014), the plan became legally binding on 3 March 2017 (KHO) (energy production and transmission, retail service structure, natural environment, transport system and logistics)
- 2nd phase regional land use plan approved by the Regional Assembly on 7 December 2016 and became final on 2 February 2017 (cultural environments and landscape areas, rural settlement structure, recreational and tourist areas, regional shooting ranges and material centres, areas of the Defence Forces)
- 3rd phase regional land use plan approved by the Regional Assembly on 11 June 2018, decreed by the the Board of the Regional Assembly on the basis of Section 232 of the MRL on 5 November 2018 and became final on 17 January 2022 after the Supreme Administrative Court rejected the final appeal (Pohjavesi and rock areas, mineral potential and mining areas, traffic and land use in the Oulu region, revisions of wind power areas, revisions of the plan markings of Vaala and Himanka and other necessary updates)
More information on regional planning
Ministry of the Environment: Land-use planning system
Land Use and Building Act
