North Hervanta set for about 650 new residents under Tampere zoning plan

According to the City of Tampere, a zoning proposal to add housing and services to north Hervanta is now on public display. It grants roughly 32,310 square metres of building rights, enough for about 650 residents, and requires at least 500 m² of street-level commercial and office space.

The plan concentrates new development along the tram corridor and Insinöörinkatu, creating a greener, pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly extension of Hervanta centre. Plans include a tree-lined plaza beside the tram stop, retail and office spaces at ground level facing Orivedenkatu, removal of the existing fuel station, replacement of surface parking with structural parking beneath buildings and a separate parking facility at the southern edge. Design rules call for high-quality façades with brick cladding on lower volumes, measures for noise control and stormwater management, and protected semi-open block courtyards.

"There has been sustained work on Hervanta's north axis, and now the plan is beginning to take shape as a new urban environment. New homes and services will appear along the tram line, but the area will also retain space for pleasant squares, green surroundings and smooth walking and cycling connections. This way Hervanta's centre can grow naturally to the north," said Ilkka Porttikivi, chair of the community committee and Deputy Mayor.

The plan builds on the 2017 competition-winning concept "Keinutaan" by BST-arkkitehdit and was revised after further studies. A previously proposed high tower and expensive deck structures were dropped. The second part will be on public display on 1 October 2026, with a comment period before the plan proceeds to approval.

It follows recent proposals for towers and a parking garage near Ahvenispolku and Insinöörinkatu, and would replace the Wanha Bensis petrol station with housing and shops, ending fuel distribution at the site.