Northern city by the river delta – Oulu City Centre Vision 2026–2040 was approved
The Oulu City Centre Vision 2026–2040, which guides the Oulu city centre’s development, has been approved. The city of Oulu’s Urban and Environmental Committee approved the Oulu City Centre Vision 2026–2040 as an advisory plan for the development of the Oulu city centre on June 2, 2026.
The vision guides the city centre’s long-term development and supports the Oulu City Strategy’s goals until 2040. The goal of the City Centre Vision is a dynamic, sustainable, and unique city centre that meets the changing needs of the citizens, businesses, and visitors.
“We are delighted with the new and updated vision. We believe that the Oulu city centre will become even better in the coming years with the cooperation of the city centre’s operators and citizens of Oulu”, City Planner Eini Vasu explains.
The Vision was built together with citizens
The City Centre Vision was prepared in cooperation with citizens of Oulu. The citizens got to participate in the vision work through, for example, a LEGO workshop, AI workshops, surveys, and public events.
The citizens of Oulu had the opportunity to comment on the Vision’s draft which was on public display from October 17 – November 3, 2025. A lot of feedback was received. The feedback especially highlighted compacting city structure, sustainable mobility, parking, increasing greenery, improving lighting, and accessibility.
Northern city by the river delta
The City Centre Vision is based on the Pohjoisen rytmin suistokaupunki final report and six annex reports that elaborate the Vision’s themes. The vision map presents the development axis of Hallituskatu, the coast region, and Kirkkokatu.
The Vision’s central development principles are:
- Letting water create the rhythm of the city centre
- Building warmth in the north
- Bringing urban nature into everyday lives
- Telling the city’s story through light
- Making mobility effortless and playful
The separate annex reports discuss the city centre’s vitality factors, the potential of infill development, traffic and parking organization, development of greenery and waterways, and the opportunities of lighting. The reports support the implementation of the Vision and offer a basis for future development and decisions.
A shared direction for development
Oulu City Centre Vision 2026–2040 creates a shared direction for the development of the city centre. The goal is a city centre that is comfortable, functional, and sustainable – a place where everyday life, work, and experiences come together.
The Vision invites you to join in the long-term and cooperative development of the Oulu city centre – for the good of all the city centre’s users.
The City Centre Vision’s implementation is directed annually in connection with the City of Oulu budget evaluation. The progress is reported in annual reports. A report will be compiled by the end of the Council term in 2028 and will be presented to the Urban and Environmental Committee.
Oulu City Centre Vision 2026–2040 opens a new, sustainable, and dynamic direction for the Oulu city centre development – join us in building northern rhythm along the water!