Regulator calls island resort plans too extensive

Espoo’s plans for a luxury holiday village on Högkopplan island are too extensive, the Licensing and Supervisory Authority says, according to Yle. The authority says the island’s natural environment must be protected.

Multimillionaire Asko Schrey bought the island and is planning the resort. The city is preparing a shoreline detailed plan for the island, which is in the Suvisaaristo archipelago.

The city received seven statements from authorities, including three from its own departments, as well as six other submissions during a consultation that ended in early October. It expects the plan to reach the proposal stage next spring.

Concerns raised include the scale, height and style of construction, helicopter noise and increased lighting around outdoor spaces, yards and piers. Respondents also warned about effects on wildlife and nearby residents, noting that sounds can carry a long way over water.

The authority says construction should be concentrated in one cluster, leaving the rest of the island as untouched as possible. It recommends reassessing the amount of building and says any additions should be modest and carefully fitted to the surroundings. A proposed fortress with towers would be too massive and out of place in the archipelago, it says.

Submissions also raised concerns about preserving the island’s woodland and natural character, and protecting habitats used by bats and otters. The authority called for an assessment of the plan’s climate effects, including those of demolishing existing buildings, and suggested considering how building materials could be reused or recycled.

Water supply and wastewater treatment are also unresolved. The island’s current water system is designed for summer use and it has no wastewater network. The Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority says the island is outside its service area and is not included in its 2025 to 2034 water services development plan.

Caruna Espoo says it can move electrical substations and power lines, but the party requesting the work would have to pay for it, and the lines would need permanent locations. The city must agree with the owner of local water infrastructure on any line relocations and the cost of expanding water services.

If tourism operations go ahead, the island may also need some form of first-aid service.