Lakalaiva neighbourhood centre added to Tampere's southern master plan

According to the City of Tampere, the southern partial master plan has been expanded to include the future Lakalaiva neighbourhood centre. The city board approved an expanded participation and assessment plan on 31 August 2026; the draft will be on public display from 3 September to 5 October 2026.

Lakalaiva will be planned alongside neighbouring Rautaharkko and Rantaperkiö because their traffic networks, functions and planning needs are tightly linked. The new area covers the future neighbourhood centre between the highway interchange, Autovarikonkatu, Automiehenkatu and Lempääläntie. Work on a local detailed plan for a wellbeing centre south of Automiehenkatu is already under way. The next stage will move north of the street.

A general plan required before zoning will be prepared alongside the partial master plan. It will define the overall traffic network, block structure principles, locations of green areas and the extent of environmental disturbances. The partial master plan sets a long-term vision in which the former marshalling yard and its surroundings evolve into a dense, green and mixed-use district with smoother connections, while guiding future local detailed plans and ensuring the change proceeds in a controlled way. Full realisation will also depend on wider regional and national planning. Citizens can send opinions to the city registry during the viewing period. A public meeting is planned for the draft stage in autumn 2027, with approval processes expected to conclude by the end of 2028.

The decision builds on the city's southward growth programme and earlier work to free land by relocating the marshalling yard, notably the March 2026 southern growth plan, as well as the previously approved relocation proposal the shunting yard relocation plan.