City Centre Vision 2040

Varied and lively meeting place 

The city centre is the heart and core of the city of Oulu. The city centre lives in time and changes with it; a living city is never finished.  

However, development must be directed, and goals must be set. City centre development has been directed with different plans for decades. Changes are visible in the city centre, such as the renovation and expansion of Rotuaari, the opening of Kivisydän, and the renewal of the city’s core blocks are all results of long-term planning. 

Oulu’s City Centre Vision 2040 is finished 

The City Centre Vision is a strategic plan regarding the grid-plan city centre which directs the development of the Oulu city centre. Its goal is to form a future image of a lively and unique city centre in Oulu. It defines the central outlines and actions for the development of the city centre. The plan’s principles guide the land use development of the city centre. However, the City Centre Vision has no legal consequence.  

Oulu City Board decided on launching the compilation of the City Centre Vision in December of 2015. The plan was compiled in three phases and based on extensive interaction. The City Centre Vision was approved by the Oulu City Council on April 3, 2017. 

Watch a video about the City Centre Vision (in Finnish). You may explore the vision in a 3D environment (in Finnish).  

Basis of the vision 

Many long-term construction projects have been finished in the previous years. On top of Kivisydän and the Rotuaari renovation, the Valkea Shopping Centre has been opened, and home construction has been active. In September 2016, Oulu’s population exceeded 200 000 inhabitants. Thus, it has been topical to reassess how the city centre of the growing city develops in the coming decades and what should be done with the city centre.  

The City Centre Vision is a bold but realistic image of the future Oulu city centre. It is a combination of strategy and plan. 

The Vision’s goal is to form an image of the city centre of the future. How do we build a lively and unique city centre for our citizens and visitors without neglecting the economy? 

Requirements for a dynamic and lively city centre 

The City Centre Vision 2024 is a strategic plan whose goal is to guide the development of Oulu’s city centre. The plan defines what factors a dynamic and unique city centre of the future consists of. Additionally, the City Centre Vision proposes 21 actions that are followed to implement the future image.  

The City Centre Vision’s primary goals have been approved by the City Board. Those goals are: 

• Oulu city centre’s population grows and foot traffic in the city centre increases.
• Parks are developed, event organization is made easier, and the difference of all four seasons is utilized.
• Oulu’s location by water is utilized in different ways more effectively than before.
• A work and learning complex is organized in the city centre and opportunities for such adaptive complexes are supported based on different needs.
• Oulu city centre’s framework is modern and attractive to businesses, citizens and visitors. 

In the plan, the development principles are listed in five development targets: 

1. renewable and complete city structure 

2. mobility 

3. green and blue 

4. urban culture and events 

5. economy and learning 

According to the principles, the Oulu city centre renews and condenses purposefully. The marketplace, city centre and Station Centre form the primary axle of city centre development. Additionally, Heinäpää and Vaara are other pressure areas of development. The pedestrian centre will expand, cycling will become faster, public transport will become fluent, and motor transport will be directed to main roads.  

The purpose of parks and river beaches will be highlighted in the condensed city centre. Areas around the city drain, park blocks and beach areas will be developed to be diverse and interesting greenspaces. The City Centre Vision highlights diverse urban culture and year-round liveliness of the city centre. The city centre as an event venue is developed as a functional totality, a network of venues.  

The starting point of the city centre’s vitality is its functional diversity. The City Centre Vision points out the city centre’s significance as an important and developing milieu for commerce and services, jobs, learning and research. 

Compiling schedule 

Oulu City Board decided on launching the compilation of the City Centre Vision on December 14, 2025. 

The City Centre Vision work is divided into three phases: analysis, main objective, and draft phases. 

During the analysis phase, diverse information about the Oulu city centre’s current state and recent development was collected. Separate reviews were compiled to support previous reports. 

The main objectives of the City Centre Vision were compiled based on the analysis phase and observatory work. The objectives were approved by the City Board in October of 2016.  

The City Centre Vision draft was created based on the analysis phase’s results, participatory information, and approved main objectives. The draft was finished in November of 2016. 

The City Centre Vision is finished and the offered feedback has been considered.  

The City Centre Vision was approved by the City Council on April 3, 2017.