Nurmes dispute pits phone mast against heritage

A Nurmes resident’s plan to build a 39-metre mobile phone mast in his yard has sparked a rare dispute in the historic old town, Yle reports.

Heikki Siitonen wants to erect the telecom mast on his property in Nurmes’s old merchant district, a nationally significant built cultural environment. Local museums and the regional museum authority oppose the plan, arguing it would harm the area’s landscape. The permit and supervision agency, however, says the landscape would not be spoiled.

Nurmes city council unanimously rejected Siitonen’s application for an exemption permit in May. The Eastern Finland Administrative Court later overturned the decision, citing insufficient legal justification.

Siitonen, who plans to lease the mast to telecom operators, says 5G coverage has been problematic in the area. He estimates the construction cost at between €50,000 and €100,000 but believes rental income would cover the investment and yield a profit.

Neighbours, including Ismo Turunen, whose property borders Siitonen’s, also oppose the mast. Turunen argues it does not belong in a residential area and could lower property values.

The city’s technical director, Olli Kakkinen, disagrees with the museums on the visual impact, stating the mast would barely be noticeable. He has proposed approving the exemption permit.

The city’s urban planning board will reconsider Siitonen’s application next week. If rejected again, Siitonen intends to appeal in court.

The case is unusual in Finland, as private individuals rarely apply for telecom mast permits—typically, operators or their subsidiaries do. The Finnish Municipal Association’s Paula Mäenpää calls it an interesting precedent, noting that new construction law cases are rare.