Phase 3 regional plan - Regional Assembly of Oulu Region

Third phase regional land use plan final

On 17 January 2022, the Supreme Administrative Court (KHO) issued its decision (H40/2022) on the appeals against the approval of the 3rd phase regional land use plan for Northern Ostrobothnia. The Supreme Administrative Court rejected the appeals, and the Regional Assembly's approval decision of 11 June 2018 (§ 5) remains in force. The third phase regional land use plan for Northern Ostrobothnia is legally valid.

Supreme Administrative Court decision of 17 January 2022

Regional Assembly of Oulu Region 11.6.2018 Section 5

regional land use plan map 1:250 000: Journal 1, Journal 2, Journal 3
Plan entries and regulations
Plan statement
Annex to the report: (Annexes 1-7, 11, 12a, 13)
Unofficial composite map of regional plans (1:300 000)

The appeals were rejected by the Administrative Court, the processing of the application for leave to appeal continues at the Supreme Administrative Court

The Supreme Administrative Court has issued an interim decision on the applications for leave to appeal on 21 December 2020:
The application for leave to appeal against the Isoneva II wind farm in Siikajoki is rejected, but the Supreme Administrative Court will continue to deal in cooperation with the further appeal of the Maaninka wind farm in Kuusamo. The Regional Board of Northern Ostrobothnia has approved the opinion prepared by the Regional Regional Assembly's Office on the follow-up appeal on 15 February 2021 (§ 21). The Supreme Administrative Court will give its decision on the application for leave to appeal and the appeal later.

The Administrative Court of Northern Finland has issued a decision on appeals against the decision approving the third phase regional land use plan on 29 April 2020 (decision number 20/0240/1). The Administrative Court has examined the case and dismissed the appeals. During the appeal period against the decision of the Administrative Court of Northern Finland, two applications for leave to appeal were submitted to the Supreme Administrative Court, which means that the judicial process continues.

Press release, 30 April 2020

In its injunction, the Administrative Court of Northern Finland dismissed: demands to suspend the implementation of the 3rd phase regional plan for Northern Ostrobothnia, so the implementation of the 3rd phase regional plan may continue. The requirements concerned two areas of wind turbines. At this stage of the proceedings, there were no grounds for prohibiting the implementation of the decision of the Regional Assembly approving the third-stage regional plan, as requested by the appellants.

At its meeting on 5 November 2018 (§ 232), the the Board of the Regional Regional Assembly decided to order the 3rd phase regional land use plan to enter into force on the basis of Section 201 of the Land Use and Building Act.. The Regional Assembly of Oulu Region notifies the appeal authority, the member municipalities and the ministries concerned of the enforcement order. The regional land use plan enters into force when it has been published in municipalities belonging to the area covered by the regional land use plan and the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region publishes: Announcement of entry into force centrally in its bulletins (Kaleva, Kalajokilaakso, Koillissanomat, Raahen Seutu) on Monday 12 November 2018. The appeal authority may prohibit the enforcement of the decision.

The last phase of the renewal of the regional plan for Northern Ostrobothnia, phase 3, was approved by the regional Regional Assembly on 11 June 2018. Eight appeals were lodged against the approval decision in cooperation with the Administrative Court of Northern Finland. At its meeting on 5 November 2018 (§ 231), the the Board of the Regional Regional Assembly approved a statement on appeals to the Northern Finland Administrative Court concerning the approval of the 3rd phase regional land use plan. The the Board of the Regional Regional Assembly states that the appeals have not raised any grounds for the unlawfulness of the planning process or the Regional Assembly's approval decision. The complaints focused on wind power areas and the third phase plan theme ´Mineral Potential and Mining Areas´.

A combined map of the regional plans of Northern Ostrobothnia, showing the contested wind power areas in yellow accent colour (to the the Board of the Regional Regional Assembly on 5 November 2018).

The third phase-regional land use plan deals in cooperation with the use of the region's areas in the following themes and themes:
Groundwater and aggregates areas (POSKI project)
Mineral potential and mining areas (PORTTI report)
Oulu Region Transport and Land Use (Oulu Region Transport System Plan 2030)
Revisions of wind power areas
Checks on the plan markings of Vaala and Himanka
Other necessary updates

Progress of scheduling work

On 18 January 2016 (§5), the the Board of the Regional Regional Assembly decided on the third phase of the renewal of the regional plan for Northern Ostrobothnia (3. VMKK) commencement of action.

The participation and assessment plan concerning the content and interaction of zoning work in accordance in cooperation with Section 63 of the Land Use and Building Act was publicly available on 26 January. – 26 February 2016. On 13 June 2016, the the Board of the Regional Regional Assembly approved the responses to the statements and opinions (Summary and responses to the feedback on the participation and evaluation plan).

Statutory negotiations in cooperation with the authorities were held on 30 May 2016 and 12 February 2018 (Section 66 of the MRL and Section 11 of the MRA).

The public consultation on the preparation phase of the 3rd phase regional land use plan for Northern Ostrobothnia was held from 10 April to 12 May 2017. Feedback and responses to the draft phase discussed the the Board of the Regional Regional Assembly on 11 September 2017 (§ 159).

The proposal's opinion material pursuant to Section 13 of the Land Use and Building Decree was processed by the the Board of the Regional Regional Assembly on 16 October 2017, and the opinions were requested by 24 November 2017. Feedback and responses to the consultation at the proposal stage were discussed in the the Board of the Regional Regional Assembly on 22 January 2018 (§ 5).

The public consultation on the proposal phase of the 3rd phase regional plan for Northern Ostrobothnia was held from 28 March to 27 April 2018. Responses to incoming reminders were processed the the Board of the Regional Regional Assembly on 21 May 2018 (§ 105). Compilation of responses have been forwarded to the reminders and members. At the same meeting, the the Board of the Regional Regional Assembly proposed to the Regional Assembly that the 3rd phase-regional land use plan be approved.

3rd phase regional plan of Northern Ostrobothnia approved

At its meeting on 11 June 2018, the Regional Regional Assembly of the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region has approved the 3rd phase regional land use plan for Northern Ostrobothnia.

The audited minutes of the Regional Regional Assembly meeting are publicly available at the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region's office, Sepänkatu 20, Oulu, and on the Regional Regional Assembly's website. The audited minutes were published on 21 June 2018 and the e-mail newsletter was sent to the registries and interested parties on 25 June 2018.

The minutes and their appendices and appeal instructions can be found here. Documents for the 3rd phase regional land use plan for Northern Ostrobothnia in accordance in cooperation with the approval decision can be found this. An appeal against a decision of the Regional Assembly may be lodged in cooperation with the Administrative Court of Northern Finland in cooperation within 30 days of receiving report of the decision, in accordance in cooperation with the notice of appeal in the minutes.

The plan has not yet become final and has been the subject of eight appeals to the Administrative Court of Northern Finland. The Regional Regional Assembly's Office prepares statements on appeals to the the Board of the Regional Regional Assembly on 5 November 2018, in which case it is ascertained whether the third phase-regional land use plan can be announced by a decision of the the Board of the Regional Regional Assembly in accordance in cooperation with Section 93 of the MRA and Section 201 of the MRL before the approval decision has become final. The appeal authority may prohibit enforcement of the decision if it interprets that the appeals are not directed against delimitable content.

regional land use plan map 1:250 000: Journal 1, Journal 2, Journal 3
Plan entries and regulations
Plan statement
Annex to the report: (Annexes 1-7, 11, 12a, 13)
Unofficial composite map of regional plans (1:300 000)
Participation and evaluation plan

Approval phase

The approval of the 3rd phase regional land use plan will be discussed by the regional Regional Assembly on 11 June 2018. Protocol Approved plan material (plan maps 1:250 000) is attached.

In addition, thematic maps have been drawn up to make it easier to understand the themes of the phase plan:
Annex 8. Thematic map - Revisions of wind power areas in relation to the 1st phase regional plan and electricity grid in the 3rd phase regional plan of Northern Ostrobothnia, 30 October 2018 (tables revised)
Annex 9. Thematic map - Revisions of the use of peatlands in relation to the 1st phase regional plan in the 3rd phase regional plan of Northern Ostrobothnia, 30 October 2018 (tables revised)
Annex 10. Thematic map - Revisions of valuable esker areas and soil extraction areas and groundwater areas in the 3rd phase regional plan of Northern Ostrobothnia (POSKI project material) 21 May 2018
Annex 12b. Thematic map - Areas important for reindeer husbandry in the Northern Ostrobothnia reindeer herding reindeer herding reindeer herding reindeer herding reindeer herding reindeer herding reindeer herding in winter (TOKAT project material) 21.5.2018
Annex 12c. Thematic map - Areas important for reindeer husbandry in the Northern Ostrobothnia reindeer herding municipalities in the summer (TOKAT project material) 21.5.2018

The renewal of the regional plan for Northern Ostrobothnia will be completed when the 3rd phase regional plan becomes legally valid. At that time, the total regional plan for Northern Ostrobothnia, the 1st and 2nd regional plans for Central Ostrobothnia in the Himanka area and the Kainuu regional plan 2020 and the Kainuu trade regional plan in the Vaala area will be repealed by the new, legally valid phase 1-3 regional plans. The Hanhikivi nuclear power plan will remain in force, but its markings will be supplemented to the extent that the topics have been covered in these phase plans.

Public consultation for the proposal phase, 28 March - 27 April 2018

Based on the feedback on the statements and the negotiations in cooperation with the authorities held on 12 February 2018 (MRA 11§) and the employment negotiations, the draft plan has been revised. The Regional Board of Northern Ostrobothnia decided on 19 March 2018 (§ 51) to place the proposal for the 3rd phase regional land use plan on public display in accordance in cooperation with section 65 of the MRL and section 12 of the MRA. According to Section 65 of the Land Use and Building Act and Section 12 of the Land Use and Building Act, the plan proposal can be viewed from 28 March to 27 April 2018 at 16:00 in all municipalities in Northern Ostrobothnia and at the Regional Regional Assembly's office (Sepänkatu 20, 4th floor, 90100 OULU) during the office opening hours. Participants have the right to make a reminder of the regional land use plan proposal during the consultation period. Any reminders should be sent to the Regional Board of Northern Ostrobothnia by e-mail to kirjaamo@pohjois-pohjanmaa.fi or by post to the above-mentioned address. Alert Published on 28 March 2018 in four regional journals: Kalajoki Valley, Kaleva, Koillissanomat and Raahenseutu.

Consultation material for the proposal for the 3rd phase regional land use plan for Northern Ostrobothnia

Regional plan map 1:250 000: Journal 1, Journal 2, Journal 3, (Unofficial reduction 1:300 000)
Plan entries and regulations
Plan statement
Annex to the report: (Annexes 1-7, 11, 12a, 13)
Unofficial composite map of regional plans (1:300 000)

Separate appendix maps, thematic explanatory material:
Annex 8. Thematic map - Revisions of wind power areas in relation to the 1st phase regional plan and electricity grid in the 3rd phase regional plan of Northern Ostrobothnia, 19 March 2018
Annex 9. Thematic map - Checks on the use of peatlands in relation to the 1st phase regional plan in the 3rd phase regional plan for Northern Ostrobothnia 19.3.2018
Annex 10. Revisions of valuable esker areas and soil abstraction areas as well as groundwater areas in the 3rd phase regional plan for Northern Ostrobothnia (materials of the POSKI project) 19.3.2018
Annex 12b. Thematic map - Areas important for reindeer husbandry in the Northern Ostrobothnia reindeer herding municipalities in winter (TOKAT project material) 19.3.2018
Annex 12c. Thematic map - Areas important for reindeer husbandry in the Northern Ostrobothnia reindeer herding municipalities in the summer (TOKAT project material) 19.3.2018

Proposed Phase Evidence

Haaposuo, Saarisuo	Matorimpi
Hyrynsuo	Multasuo
IsoSarvisuo	Murronsuo
Rock rimmer	Pelsonrimpi L
Stone Peatlands, Sonniräme	Border clearing, Siltalansuo
Domestic Peatlands	Rimpisuo
Six-rimmer	Romana rats, Jusinkaarto, Little Jussinkaarto
Ladybug	Rössinkorpi
Linturimpi	Closing Peatlands
Lappish bog	Tervonrimpi
	Varpusuo

Annex 2: Tables for the assessment of the water load at Vaala se-1:
2a1 / load estimates by catchment area, all se-1 areas
2a2 / load estimates by catchment area, planning proposal reservations
2b / Peatlands specific load estimates, all se-1 areas

Background materials for Peatlands areas in the preparatory phase

Natural environment:
The LUO entries in the Northern Ostrobothnia regional plan. Report for the 3rd phase regional plan of Northern Ostrobothnia, 28.9.2017

Transport:
Transport strategy and transport system plan for Kainuu, Central Ostrobothnia and Northern Ostrobothnia (KaKePoLi), Regional Assembly of Oulu Region 2011
Oulu Region MALPE structural model 2040, Oulu Region Municipalities (Hailuoto, Ii, Kempele, Liminka, Lumijoki, Muhos, Oulu, Tyrnävä), Northern Ostrobothnia ELY Centre, Regional Regional Assembly of Northern Ostrobothnia 2015
Oulu Region Transport System Plan 2030 (Finnish Transport Agency, Oulu Region Municipalities, Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia, Regional Assembly of Oulu Region, 2015)
Development of Highway 22 at the centre of Muhos, bypass road survey (Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, 2016)
Mt 815 Airport development report between Hailuodontie (Mt 816) and Pohjantie (Vt4) (Northern Ostrobothnia ELY Centre, 2017)
Kempele-Liminka logistics zone, preliminary study (FCG Design and Technology Ltd, 2014)
Hailuoto Fixed Link Master Plan (Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, 2014)

Trade:
Northern Ostrobothnia Trade Service Network 2030, supplementary report to target year 2040, final report 29.12.2017. FCG Design and Engineering Ltd, 2017

Cultural environment:
The built cultural environment of Northern Ostrobothnia in 2015. Updating inventory of Vaala's regionally valuable building heritage, Regional Assembly of Oulu Region, 2017
Archaeological update inventory of the municipality of Vaala and Part 2 / Site descriptions, Central Ostrobothnia Archaeology Service, 28.11.2017
Background material for the preparatory phase

Proposal-stage consultative material (no public consultation)

The the Board of the Regional Regional Assembly of Northern Ostrobothnia has on 16 October 2017 approved the proposal of the 3rd phase regional land use plan for the consultation of the opinion material. In accordance in cooperation with the Land Use and Building Decree (section 13 of the MRA), the material link was sent by e-mail for a possible statement to the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia, the member municipalities, other central authorities and entities, and the ministries concerned. According to the current legislation, opinions on the draft plan must be requested and, after the feedback received, a consultation of the authorities must be organised before the proposal is made available to the public.

Feedback and responses to the consultation at the proposal stage were discussed in the the Board of the Regional Regional Assembly on 22 January 2018 (§ 5).

The opinion material of the regional land use plan proposal, which has not yet been approved by the the Board of the Regional Regional Assembly, and the regional land use plan reports can be consulted at the following links:
regional land use plan map
plan entries and regulations
Plan statement
Explanatory Note
Unofficial composite map of regional plane

Separate appendix maps, thematic explanatory material:
Compendium Opinion material and background studies for the proposal phase of the 3rd phase regional plan for Northern Ostrobothnia
Annex 8. Thematic map - Revisions of wind power areas in relation to the 1st phase regional plan and electricity grid in the 3rd phase regional plan of Northern Ostrobothnia, 16 October 2017
Annex 9. Thematic map - Checks on the use of peatlands in relation to the 1st phase regional plan in the 3rd phase regional plan of Northern Ostrobothnia, 16 October 2017
Annex 10. Revisions of valuable esker areas and soil extraction areas as well as groundwater areas in the 3rd phase regional plan of Northern Ostrobothnia (POSKI project data) 16.10.2017
Annex 12 Thematic map - Reindeer husbandry areas in Northern Ostrobothnia (TOKAT project material) 16.10.2017
Wind power:
Survey map 1 Planning status of wind power construction, October 2017
Survey map 2 Landscape basic survey, October 2017
Survey map 3 Field of vision analysis, February 2017
Survey map 4 Housing, October 2017
Study map 5 Linnusto and other nature, October 2017
Explanatory map 6 Bumper analysis, October 2017
Survey map 7 Transport and other things to consider, October 2017
Map 8 Electricity transmission connections in wind power areas, March 2017
Site descriptions Areas of 5-9 power plants located in the coastal area of the Bothnian Bay, 19.10.2017

Trade:
Northern Ostrobothnia Trade Service Network 2030, supplementary report to target year 2040, final report 29.12.2017. FCG Design and Engineering Ltd, 2017 (supplements and changes to the report version dated 9 October 2017 in red)

Consultation during the preparatory phase

Compendium / 3Statement and study material for the draft phase of the Ministry of Transport and Communications

In accordance in cooperation with Section 62 of the Land Use and Building Act and Section 30 of the MRA, the draft phase 3 regional plan for Northern Ostrobothnia is publicly available from 10 April to 12 May 2017 at the Office of the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region, Sepänkatu 20 (4th floor), 90100 OULU and in all municipalities of Northern Ostrobothnia. Technical revisions in accordance in cooperation with the decision of the the Board of the Regional Regional Assembly (20.3.2017 § 56) have been made to the zoning data on 31.3.2017.

Opinions addressed to the the Board of the Regional Regional Assembly must be sent during the consultation period by e-mail to kirjaamo@pohjois-pohjanmaa.fi or by post to the above-mentioned address. For more information on the regional land use planning draft, please contact the plan's drafters, whose responsibilities and contact details can be found on the yo. link.

The consultative material for the preparatory phase shall include:

regional land use plan map: Draft 3rd Phase regional land use plan 1: 300,000 (MKH 20.3.2017 §56, op. cit. 31.3.2017)
Regional plan entries and regulations
Plan statement
Appendix to the zoning report (does not include separate thematic and survey maps, which are linked below)
Combined map of regional plans 1:300 000

Separate appendix maps:
Annex 8. / Thematic map - Revisions of wind power areas in the 3rd phase regional land use plan of Northern Ostrobothnia
Annex 9. / Thematic map - Checks on the use of peatlands in the 3rd phase regional plan of Northern Ostrobothnia
Annex 10. / Map of studies - Soil use and groundwater protection

Factsheets