RT has issued its statement on the government's proposal regarding the revised Land Use Act. The current Land Use Act is based on the Land Use and Building Act and includes provisions on zoning and zoning procedures. The bill will be submitted to Parliament during the winter.
The proposal for a new land use act contains several new elements that promote the smoothness of planning and processes, such as streamlining the regional plan, the landowner's right of initiative, the preparation of a local plan in cooperation between the municipality and the private sector, and the possibility for the municipality to prepare a master plan and a local plan simultaneously.
In addition, the proposal is reforming the provisions on the right of appeal. The right of appeal against local plans will be removed from municipal members if the local plan is in accordance with the master plan. The right of appeal against the local plan will in future be held by the parties concerned, i.e. those whose rights, obligations and interests are affected by the plan. The prerequisite for the right of appeal for associations is that the association has made a complaint about the proposed plan, with the exception of a few exceptional situations.
The presentation also clearly identifies the changes in the operating environment that have occurred since the Land Use and Building Act came into force in 2000, such as urbanization, climate change, energy issues, nature loss, security of supply, and the polarization of Finland.