Finland: Construction & Planning

Finland's land use planning system is undergoing a major overhaul with the proposed Land Use Act, introducing significant changes to regional plan authority, planning processes, and renewable energy project requirements. The reform aims to streamline administrative procedures while imposing new distance requirements for wind turbines and planning obligations for solar power plants that will fundamentally reshape how developers approach renewable energy projects.

Finland's Customs have issued a press release making public an investigation into the suspected export of technical documents from a nuclear power plant construction project to Russia.

The new Building Act entered into force in Finland at the beginning of 2025. On 17 December 2024, Parliament also approved the amendments to the Act.

Registered associations will in future have the right to appeal building permits if the permit concerns a project that is subject to the Act on Environmental Impact Assessment Procedure.

Onshore wind power has solidified its place as a form of electricity production in Finland. In contrast, there is currently only one offshore wind power plant operating in Finland, located in Tahkoluoto, Pori.

The past year and a half has forced construction companies to adapt in new ways.