The City of Helsinki suspended the street and site preparation works in the southern part of Kruunuvuorenranta at the beginning of November 2023 when a small natural stream was found within the construction site. In the autumn, the NGOs submitted an application to the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) and AVI to suspend the construction project, citing natural values. The ELY Centre rejected the application from the organisations in November.
The NGOs appealed the decision of the Ely Centre, but the Helsinki Administrative Court rejected the appeal on 5 July. The decision is not yet final.
The city has already taken steps to restore the stream and is committed to restoring it by 31 May 2025 in accordance with the AVI decision.
The city is conducting area streamlet surveys
The Water Act defines a streamlet as smaller than a stream and as having a catchment area of less than ten square kilometres. According to the law, their natural state must not be compromised. The City of Helsinki is currently exploring various options for continuing the construction of Kruunuvuori in a way that ensures the conservation of Kruunuvuori’s streamlet.
In addition, the city has conducted an area streamlet survey of Kruunuvuorenranta and Laajasalo. The survey is not complete yet, but more than ten streamlets have been found in the area.
The space needs of the Kruunuvuorenranta school will be assessed in the autumn
The streamlet’s catchment area is mainly located within the Kruunuvuorenranta service block. A comprehensive school, daycare centre, youth facility and sports hall have been planned for the service block, with plans to start construction in the spring.
Due to complaints from NGOs, the construction of the service block has been delayed, which has been of particular concern to the parents of the Kruunuvuorenranta’s schoolchildren. Updated information on population growth and the growing number of children in the area will be available when the latest population forecast is completed. Based on this, it will be possible to assess the space needs of the Kruunuvuorenranta school, early childhood education facilities, and the planned pavilion for the next few years in the autumn.