New study: Need for even more determined strategic planning and management in urban areas

The research report on the relationships between land use, housing and sustainable public finances published today focuses on the need for even more determined strategic planning and management in the public administration. The key theme of the study was the problems of urban growth. The researchers developed a strategic integration tool that employees and decision makers in local government, specifically in urban areas, can use.

The strategic integration tool stems from the concept that a more strategic approach must be taken to the planning of land use, housing and services. In the public administration, this translates into a continuous, flexible strategic process where the various levels, timescales and planning tools will be better coordinated and harmonised between administrative branches.

The JULMA research project on land use, housing and sustainable public finances (2014–2015) comprised six component studies with varying topics and perspectives. Points of contact between these were sought in several workshops using a joint development method. The workshops involved not only the researchers but also a large number of experts from central, local and regional government as well as from other organisations.

The component studies and their authors (with contact details) were:

Old and new forms of community structure management. The study focuses on managing the development of urban areas in particular. The study notes that Finland’s current land-use planning system essentially works well, but is rigid and vulnerable to disruptions. More flexible and more strategic planning tools are needed, and new actors need to be involved. Author of the study: Vesa Kanninen (tel. 050 350 8518).

Identifying pitfalls in decision making. In this pioneering study, the effectiveness of public finances (particularly the service system) and the sustainability of community structure are viewed in the context of broader community development. This approach is challenged by differences in perspective, sector-based administration and different functions having differing timescales. The study outlines the content for a community contract intended as a means for bridging the gaps between silos in administration. Authors of the study: Jarmo Vakkuri, Ilari Karppi (tel. 040 190 4003) and Iina Sankala.

Evaluation and improvement of the present procedure for letters of intent for land use, traffic and housing (MAL). MAL letters of intent are considered important tools for cooperation between local and central government and regional actors. These letters of intent coordinate aspects of land use, housing and transport in urban areas, exploring common ground for implementing measures in these fields. However, the MAL procedure could be improved in many ways, as described in this component study. Authors of the study: Raine Mäntysalo and Kati-Jasmin Kosonen (tel. 040 195 2852).

Promoting business competitiveness in the land-use policy of local authorities. This topic has not been studied very much at all, in Finland or elsewhere. They key problem has to do with the role of the local authority vis-à-vis the business community. Is it the job of the local authority to seek to provide good trading locations for all actors, in keeping with current trends? Or should the local authority seek to stabilise the operating environment for existing actors? And how can the goals of a coherent community structure and local government finances fit into this equation? Authors of the study: Raine Mäntysalo and Hanna Mattila (tel. 050 512 4538).

Comparing segregation rates between the 11 largest urban areas in Finland. There is a clear differentiation in population structure in all of Finland’s urban areas, between their central cities and the surrounding municipalities. The percentage of foreign language speakers, low-income persons and unemployed persons is higher in the central cities. The segregation rate between immigrants and the native population has not changed very much over the past ten years, even though the number of immigrants in Finland has more than doubled. In the Turku area, segregation is sharper than anywhere else in the country. The present study marks the first time that urban areas have been compared like this. Authors of the study: Jukka Hirvonen (tel. 050 512 4574) and Sari Puustinen.

The research project was conducted as part of the implementation of the 2014 Government plan for analysis, assessment and research. The project was coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment.

The authors of the study came from the Urban Planning (YTK) research group of the Department of Real Estate, Planning and Geoinformatics at Aalto University; from the School of Management at the University of Tampere; and from the national development network for land use, housing and traffic (MAL network). The responsible project manager was Raine Mäntysalo, Professor of Strategic Urban Planning with the YTK Land Use Planning and Urban Studies Group.

The entire research may be found online at: http://vnk.fi/julkaisu?pubid=8701 (in Finnish)

Report publication details:

Puustinen, Sari & Mäntysalo, Raine & Karppi, Ilari (eds.) (2016): Strateginen eheyttäminen kaupunkiseuduilla. Näkökulmia kestävän maankäytön ja julkisen talouden kysymyksiin. [Strategic integration in the urban areas. Aspects of issues in sustainable land use and public finances.] Valtioneuvoston selvitys- ja tutkimustoiminnan julkaisusarja 4/2016. ISSN PDF 2342-6799, ISBN 978-952-287-209-8.

Further information on the research project and its findings is available from the authors of the component studies and from the project manager, Sari Puustinen, tel. 050 522 4182, [email protected].