Pispala zoning plan approved by Tampere City Council after 15 years of preparation

The Pispala zoning plan, which has been under preparation for 15 years, has finally received approval. The Tampere City Council voted in favor of the plan during its meeting on Monday, accompanied by a hopeful motion. The new plan will grant a total of 19 plots increased construction rights. Construction rights are measured by an efficiency ratio, indicating the portion of the plot area that can be utilized for building. For instance, if a plot measures 1,000 square meters and the efficiency ratio is 0.3, then the allowable construction area is 300 square meters.

In the previous zoning proposal from 2020, an efficiency ratio of 0.3 was suggested for 28 plots. However, the recently approved plan now applies that ratio only to nine of the most protected plots. According to Mikko Nurminen, Director of Urban Environment Services in Tampere, after detailed examinations, some plots were found to have the potential for increased efficiency ratios without compromising protection values. Most plots will now have a construction efficiency of 0.4.

The plan for Pispala is being renewed gradually, with the approved second phase extending to the western and southwestern regions toward the log tunnel. The goal is to ensure the preservation of Pispala’s nationally significant cultural environment, while also facilitating the controlled development of the area as a vibrant and dynamic locale. Due to preservation goals, the amount and scale of infill construction must be limited by the plan.

A rare initiative was presented at the council meeting by councilor Anne-Mari Jussila, which emphasizes the need to compile examples of approved deviations from the zoning regulations to better support future processes. This motion passed with a vote of 56 to 5, with six councilors abstaining.