The aim of the area is to create a small town close to nature with rail traffic
Östersundom's partial local master plan proposal is on deposit 28.9.-30.10.2026. The participants have the opportunity to leave a reminder of the plan proposal during the viewing time. The materials for viewing and instructions for submitting the reminder can be found in the zoning announcement https://www.hel.fi/spatial announcements(Link leads to external service).(In Finnish)
Link to map service: Östersundom sub-general plan (Link leads to external service)
The partial local master plan shows the central community structure of the area, such as transport connections, green and recreational network, nature reserves, and the location of housing, jobs and services. The sub-general plan for Östersundom is drawn up for an area that includes the district of Östersundom and the part of Mustavuori that does not have the Helsinki master plan 2016. The sub-general plan guides the town planning of the area.
The Östersundom area is being designed as a consistent whole based on the light rail line, with consideration for the green network and the most valuable nature areas for approximately 30,000-40,000 inhabitants.
The light rail line will mainly run along the Uusi Porvoontie road, connecting to Itäkeskus. New construction will primarily be located along the rail line and lean on existing infrastructure. The partial local master plan will preserve areas with the most significant natural values and indicate a comprehensive network of nature conservation areas.
The realisation of the area is tied to the rail transport decision, however, so large-scale construction will only take place in the long term. Until then, the focus will be on infill construction of existing areas with low-density housing, development of the network of green areas and outdoor recreation trails, and the construction of areas of employment.
Read more about the partial local master plan, detailed plan and other plan levels
Detailed planning of existing areas with low-density housing
The City of Helsinki is preparing changes to the detailed plan for the existing areas with low-density housing in parallel with the work on the partial local master plan and begin zoning existing small house areas that have not yet been zoned.
Currently, a change in the detailed plan for the northern part of Karhusaari is underway, the plan proposal of which was approved by the Urban Environment Board on 11 November 2025, and which was publicly available in November-December 2025. In November 2025, the detailed plans for the Kärr, Vikkullantie, Degermossa, Östersundom Chapel surroundings, Ribbingö and Puroniitty areas have also started to be drawn up with participation and evaluation plans, which were publicly available in November-December 2025. The previously planned change of Landbo's detailed plan has gained legal force on 7 May 2025.
A detailed planning programme has been drawn up for the existing areas with low-density housing in Östersundom, specifying the areas where infill development will be possible before starting the project development committed to rail transport in Östersundom.
The areas included in the planning programme are established areas with detached housing and will mainly remain so in the future. Additional construction will require the development of water supply.
Even though the building prohibition is no longer in force, as a rule Helsinki’s unplanned areas can be considered to be action areas, meaning a building permit requires a positive decision on the need for planning.
As a rule, positive dconstruction permit will only be made for the demolition of an existing residential building and its replacement by a new residential building.
Frequently asked questions
The partial local master plan for Östersundom aims to prepare for population growth in Helsinki, steer the growth in a sustainable manner, increase the supply of diverse housing types, provide building sites for detached houses and balance the regional structure of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area towards the east.
There is no valid local master plan for the Östersundom area.
The municipalities of Helsinki, Vantaa and Sipoo drafted a joint local master plan for the Östersundom area in 2010–2018. However, the Supreme Administrative Court overturned the joint local master plan for Östersundom in 2021. A partial local master plan is now being prepared for the area. It is expected to be completed in 2025.
There is no longer a building prohibition in place in the Östersundom area due to the preparation of the partial local master plan. The building prohibition expired in May 2021 when the Supreme Administrative Court overturned the joint local master plan for Östersundom. An area in the northern part of Karhusaari is subject to a building prohibition due to the preparation of a detailed plan. Even though the building prohibition is no longer in force, as a rule Helsinki’s unplanned areas can be considered to be action areas, meaning a building permit requires a positive decision on the need for planning. As a rule, positive decisions on the need for planning will only be made for the demolition of an existing residential building and its replacement by a new residential building.
Local master planning stages
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Start
- Map survey 12/2021–1/2022
- New Östersundom online event 12/2021
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Participation and assessment plan
- Opinions 02/2022
- Online event 02/2022
- New eastern Helsinki online event 05/2022
- Online event 05/2022
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Land use scenarios
- Online survey 11-12/2022
- Workshop 11/2022
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Planning Principles of the local master plan
- Opinions 09/2023
- Discussion session 09/2023
- Urban Environment Committee december 2023, decicion 19.12.2023
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Plan draft on deposit autumn 2024 and interaction with residents
Processed by the Urban Environment Committee on 28 January 2025, decision issued on 18 March 2025
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Plan proposal
- Proceedings of the Urban Environment Committee 2 June 2026, decision 1 September 2026
- On display 28.9.-30.10.2026
- Resident event on Thursday 1 October 2026 Sakarinmäki school
Contact information
Name
Pasi Rajala
Name
Anne Karlsson
Name
Tuomas Lehtonen
Name
Iiris Karvinen
Name
Tuukka Linnas
Name
Katri Backman
You can also find this page at hel.fi/ostersundoms-plan.