The simplification of zoning and the electronic one-stop transaction system must be completed in the coming election season.
The KIRA forum, i.e. 14 key communities in the real estate and construction sector, have put together joint government program goals that promote the well-being and competitiveness of the whole of Finland.
One of the central goals of the KIRA forum is to make zoning smoother in the ongoing overall reform of the Land Use and Building Act. Plan levels and contents should be developed so that they are flexible as needed and focus on urban structure planning and do not go to the level of building planning. A one-stop electronic transaction system for all permit matters is also needed to make the licensing process go smoothly.
"A sustainable and competitive built environment is in the interest of all of Finland. The current hierarchical formula system does not promote this goal", states the chairman of the KIRA forum's management team, CEO of Rakennusteollisuus RT Aleksi Randell.
In addition to smooth planning and permitting, the goals focus on curbing climate change, securing the availability of skilled labor, promoting innovation, and calling on the minister(s) for overall control of the built environment. During the upcoming election period, the main transport network must also be renewed to two-track and four-lane, so that it serves the current and future needs of both people's movement and the transport of goods.
"The importance of activities in the real estate and construction industry will increase in the future, when, for example, climate change and urbanization shape the built environment in an unprecedented way. In order to succeed, we need flexibility in planning land use, investing in the life cycle management of the building stock to reduce emissions, renewing skills and promoting productivity by developing the industry's operating methods and digital platforms", reminds the CEO of RAKLI Jyrki Laurikainen.
The built environment and its quality are of great social and national economic importance. Built assets make up the majority of our national wealth and people spend 99 percent of their time in the built environment. 32 percent of all energy consumed in Finland is used in buildings. The real estate and construction sector and its services employ one in five Finns.
The government program objectives of the KIRA forum can be read in full at https://kirafoorumi.fi/.
For more information:
- Aleksi Randell
Chairman of the KIRA forum management group
CEO, Construction Industry RT
tel. 09 1299 201 - Jyrki Laurikainen
CEO, RAKLI association
tel. 040 844 2573 - Susanna Aula
Communications manager, RAKLI association
tel. 040 763 6994 - Summary of the government program goals of the KIRA forum (pdf)