Kera to become an ecological district along the railway line

The station area of Kera will be transformed from a logistics area into an urban district, which will also serve as an employment area. In addition to public transport, the emphasis in mobility will be on cycling and walking. 

The City Board of Espoo will discuss the amendment to the local detailed plan of Kera and the approval of land use agreements at its meeting on Monday 23 August. The amendment will then be submitted to the City Council for approval. The housing construction can start once the plan has been approved by the Council. 

The development of Kera will start south of the railway line, around Keran Hallit.  

The coastal railway borders the plan area to the north. To the west, the area is flanked by Ring II. To the south, the area is bordered by the Nihtimäki single-family house area and to the east by Karantie (Karamalmintie). The plan covers an area of 27.3 hectares. 

In the middle of the residential blocks will be Keranpuisto Park, through which a pedestrian and cycle path will run under the railway line. At the edge of the park, space has been allocated for a school and two daycare centres. New street, pedestrian and cycling connections will be built in the area. 

Keran Hallit will continue to operate 

The revenue from the land use agreements will cover the costs of the municipal infrastructure needed to facilitate residential development in the area. The land use agreements between the landowners and the City of Espoo include a commitment regarding the development of the Kera area, with the aim of working in close cooperation and developing sustainable and low-emission solutions in Kera. 

The development commitment supports Espoo’s goal of being carbon neutral by 2030 and strengthens sustainable urban development. 

The main landowner south of the railway is S Group, which also owns Keran Hallit.  

According to S Group, the temporary operations at Keran Hallit will continue at least until the summer of 2025. S Group will demolish the buildings in stages. As the first step, the end part of the halls will be demolished during the coming winter, but this will not affect the operators of Keran Hallit. 

The former Inex logistics centre, owned by SOK, was left empty when the logistics centre moved to Sipoo in 2019. Since then, the premises have been used for a wide range of activities, including sports services, restaurants and cultural activities. For example, the courtyard of Keran Hallit boasts a spectacular collection of murals. 

Two other plans for Kera are in preparation. Next, the industrial area to the north of the railway will be transformed into a residential area. Later on, the Kutojantie area to the south of Keran Hallit will also be renewed. Both residential and commercial development will take place there.  

Around 14,000 residents 

Kera is designated as an area for tall construction. Tall blocks of flats will be built around the station area. 

It is estimated that the entire Kera area will eventually be home to around 14,000 people.  

The plans for Kera are guided by the goal of making it a pioneering area for sustainable development, circular economy and digitalisation.  

The City of Espoo is developing Kera into an international example of circular economy together with residents, landowners, businesses and other partners.  

In Kera, circular economy means things such as temporary use of premises, new energy solutions and forms of mobility, and urban food production. Digitalisation, in turn, is applied in Kera in areas such as the planning and optimisation of material- and energy-efficient construction, waste management and energy consumption.