Sweco drew up Masterplan for the development of an industrial environment that promotes the green transition in Nurmes

Published: June 27, 2025

An expansion of an industrial area with about 60 hectares is being planned in Nurmes, Finland. Sweco has drawn up a Masterplan for the expansion, and it serves the development of the operating environment in the area located in Pitkämäki. The Masterplan aims to create an attractive operating environment and create new opportunities for growth and expansion for companies.

Masterplan includes a land use plan and reports related to the operating environment

The masterplan includes a land use plan for the industrial area, a general environmental impact assessment of the expansion, and a review of new technologies. New technologies refer to solutions that support the clean energy transition and have very low greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition, Sweco will carry out a nature survey of the area in the summer of 2025.

“The land use plan for the area has been drawn up in such a way that it enables the flexible location of various activities in the area. The plan ensures the functionality and practicality of the area from the point of view of traffic, logistics and infrastructure,” says Nina Aarras, Project Manager at Sweco.

The new technologies review assessed the potential of various low-carbon businesses in the planned area. Opportunities were identified, for example, in P2X technologies and biofuels, as well as in wood processing and bioproducts. Reviews were carried out from the perspective of existing and potential new operators.

As a result of the environmental impact assessment, a general overview of the environmental impacts related to the expansion of the area was obtained. The results of the assessment serve as a good basis for the EIA assessment of the expansion area to be carried out later.

“Masterplan met our expectations well. The measures were carried out well, and the land use plan is central to further development. We are particularly pleased with the land use plan that has been drawn up,” says Joel Kettunen, Business Specialist at PIKES Oy.

“We also received valuable information from the general environmental impact assessment for the further development of the expansion area and the results of the new technologies review,” he continues.

Masterplan supports the development of the industrial area in Nurmes

Based on the assessment, the industry is well positioned to locate in the planned expansion area. For example, the area has potential for good transport connections, the nearby area is sparsely populated and the area is not located in a groundwater area. In addition, many opportunities were identified in the region to utilise technologies to promote lower-emission industrial activities.

“The land use plan and assessment related to the area’s operating environment will support the future zoning of the expansion area. In addition, the environmental impact assessment will serve as a basis for the future environmental impact assessment of the expansion area,” Kettunen says.

The masterplan was implemented in cooperation between Sweco, PIKES Oy and the City of Nurmes. “The cooperation was smooth, and despite the challenging schedule, the work was completed with high quality,” says Kettunen. “The exchange of information and communication worked well, and the most important issues were well taken into account,” he continues.

“Masterplan planning is a cost-effective way for our clients to produce a comprehensive masterplan for future operations. The work requires close cooperation between the actors and multidisciplinary expertise. Sweco has the necessary experts under the same roof,” says Sweco’s Nina Aarras.