Skip to content

Lahti Direction

In the work we do in Lahti Direction, we are building a sustainable future in cooperation with various operators.

Citizens, decision-makers, experts and other stakeholders are invited into the process. The work’s purpose is to ensure a sustainable and healthy life for the citizens.  The work is about finding a solution for sustainable daily life and the well-being of the citizens.

The Lahti Direction work is done in cycles of four years by the City Council terms. Now the work for the years 2017 to 2020 is under preparation. For the first time, a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan is prepared alongside the master plan. Themes of the environmental programme and service network work have also been included.

This way of planning land use and mobility together is unique in Finland.

Lahti Direction was approved by the city council

The proposal for the Lahti Direction work was completed in May 2020 and available for view from July to August. Lahti City Council made a decision on the approval of Lahti Direction in January 2021. Two formal appeals were sent to the local administrative court.

What is Lahti like in 2030?

What kind of city would you like to live in? What lifestyles might your children and grandchildren choose in the future? These are some of the questions we are searching answers for together in the Lahti Direction work. Lahti Direction is a discussion forum about the city’s future.

The objectives of Lahti Direction for 2030

The objectives are based on the City’s strategy and divided into six themes.

  • Lahti is a lively and welcoming environmental city where nature is within the citizens’ reach. Densely built along the railway track, Lahti provides the services of a provincial centre as well as an urban and rural living environment for its citizens and businesses. The master plan enables Lahti to have 150,000 residents and 60,000 jobs.

  • The city centre is a vibrant place for living, working and spending leisure time. A cosy pedestrian centre has been created in the busiest shopping area. Walking in the city centre is comfortable and quiet, and the air quality is good.

    The city centre provides services of a provincial centre and life around the clock. The city centre’s population has grown as the number of students has increased.

  • Lahti has welcoming neighbourhoods with services within walking distance. The urban structure has become harmonious after the growth began to focus mainly on the current urban area.

    There is a wide range of housing available to fit different lifestyles and life situations. For most Lahti residents, recreation areas are within walking distance and actively used.

  • The Lahti region is known for being friendly to the environment and businesses. The employment rate in the Lahti region is good and the number of jobs has increased as a result of the change in the economic structure.

    The areas of business life have expanded and become more diverse. The Lahti region is a national junction of passenger and goods traffic. The great location attracts new businesses to Lahti, particularly from the environmental sector and the field of design, and increases commuting from the Helsinki Metropolitan Area as well.

  • The different needs of our citizens are taken into account in our basic services. Accessibility has been improved with easy-to-use electronic services, among other things.

    Community centres provide services for people of all ages and are accessible with all modes of transport.

    Lahti is known for its high-quality cultural and sports services.

  • The City’s green areas – forests, parks, meadows and fields – form a diverse and harmonious network.

    A well-guided and diverse recreational path network covers the entire city. Tourists have also found the nature attractions of Lahti. The network of nature conservation areas has grown, and the cultural landscapes have remained full of life.

Master plan

A general plan for the land use and traffic network of the entire city. It indicates where the different operations, such as services, businesses and housing, are located. By the decision of the Council, the master plan becomes legally valid.

Read more about master plan

Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan

The Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) includes the vision, objectives and list of measures as well as an implementation plan for promoting sustainable mobility. All transportation modes are included in the plan.

Read more about Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan

Contact us