The representatives of the five parties considered how to promote good construction. We were also ready to dismantle, when it comes to standards.
Reasonably priced housing, safety, smooth traffic and sustainable growth. In a nutshell, the election promises of Rakennusteollisuus RT, which were published on Thursday, will help us move towards the spring parliamentary elections.
Five leading politicians commented on the election promises in a panel discussion organized by RT. They were there Atte Harjanne (green), Petri Honkonen (middle), Matias Mäkynen (sd.), Lulu Wrist (ps.) and Elina Valtonen (collect.).
The core of the discussion remained the promotion of more efficient land use, deregulation, infrastructure investments and construction that increases energy efficiency.
The Construction Act remained a torso - the need to streamline the regulation was transferred to the next election period
RT promises that 35 new apartments will be built annually in Finland during the next government term, which corresponds to the need assessed by VTT. The promise can be kept if enough land is zoned for construction and the regulations are ready to be dismantled. The panelists gave thumbs up to the norm breaking talks unanimously.
Keskustan's Honkonen stated that it is necessary to lighten the regulation on both the licensing and zoning sides. "It hasn't been done quickly enough," Honkonen said. For example, he took the unnecessarily detailed planning regulations, which contribute to increasing construction costs and thus the price of housing.
In the opinion of Kokoomous Valtonen, construction should be market-oriented and take people's needs into account better than before. He proposed a processing guarantee period for the permit processes, so that the building permit would not have to wait too long. "Regulation will be expensive," Valtonen said.
SDP's Mäkynen spoke in favor of limiting the right to appeal. If you could only complain about the project once, the same complainer could not slow down the project at different stages of the planning process.
There is a possibility to dismantle the regulation by reforming the legislation. Mäkynen expressed his disappointment that the reform of the Land Use and Building Act did not progress as hoped during this government term. According to him, it remained a torso.
Perussuomalisten Ranne took a stand on the law reform, stating that it should have focused on ensuring the full use of automation in permit processes.
Although the target is the spring parliamentary elections, RT's election goals also hope for urban policies that utilize economics from the municipalities. The importance of the decisions made in municipalities for good construction and reasonably priced housing came out in the speeches of the panelists. "We need a good urban policy," summed up Harjanne of the Greens.
Municipalities were encouraged to plan boldly. The lack of zoned land must not prevent new homes from being built where they are needed.
Honkonen stated that it is considered in the center that the municipality or the city must first and foremost be a partner for the private entrepreneur who bears the risks related to the construction project. Whether it was about building your own home or a construction company.
Municipalities have great power in zoning and licensing practices. Promoting good construction is cutting down differences between municipalities. Perusfinomainsten Ranne reminded that different practices currently create inequality.
Income from the sale of state assets to finance infrastructure projects
In Finland, the government has halved road investments from the level of the early 1990s, and investments in the transport network have unfortunately often been at the top of the cut lists in recent years. Even so, despite the fact that a functional infrastructure promotes smooth movement, is part of current security of supply and is a significant factor in the country's competitiveness.
RT hopes that Finland will finally decide to step up infrastructure construction along with the other Nordic countries. A good start is sticking to the guidelines of the Liikenne 12 program approved by the parliament.
Valtonen reflected that in a possible recession, infrastructure maintenance and the construction of new infrastructure are an excellent means of reviving the state economy. "We do the projects that would be done anyway. Those that are reasonable and effective in their life cycle. We are committed to that," Valtonen promised.
The whole of Finland was remembered in the infrastructure project discussion. The Vaasa-Umeå bridge, the Turku hourly train, the development of the main line and even the Tallinn tunnel were mentioned. Traffic from Finland to the west must be smooth and different parts must be internally accessible.
Valtonen, Harjanne and Mäkynen supported RT's proposal that infrastructure projects could be financed by selling state assets. Investments made in infrastructure construction will return, they have a large leverage effect.
The panelists called for a positive attitude from Finland in the utilization of EU funding in infrastructure projects. Honkonen of the center encouraged to look at the model from the neighbor. Sweden has excelled in applying for EU funding for its own transport infrastructure projects.
The search for funding requires the government to take a more strategic approach than before. It is difficult to apply for funding if there are no plans, Mäkynen said and added that planning should be ready already at the beginning of the government term.
"A green transition and a sustainable future require construction"
RT promises to be involved in building a more sustainable future. It means healthy, safe and energy-efficient premises as well as reducing emissions and promoting the circular economy in everything we do.
The great role of the construction industry in environmental issues is also understood in the parliament. "The green transition and a sustainable future require construction," Harjanne said.
Honkonen and Valtonen spoke in favor of conversion flexibility. In addition to quality, conversion flexibility is one step towards long-lasting construction solutions.
Mäkynen, on the other hand, estimates that when funding directed to research, development and innovation (R&D) is distributed, the climate impact potential hidden in the development of construction could be better identified than before.
The lightest question of the evening concerned the panelists' own construction experiences. Ranne stated that he has a master's degree in civil engineering and that he has also built a couple of his own houses. For others, merits had accrued from the construction of a wooden liter, a sauna cabin, a huuss and a tea raft. Valtonen of the coalition revealed that he had built a suitable greenhouse from old windows. According to him, the solution promoting the circular economy also took into account the aesthetic side. It was noticed if the viewer had an artistic eye.
Photos: Leena Koskela
Watch the recording on the panel
You can also watch the recording on YouTube.