The complaint about the Henttalanmäki formula was rejected
Metsä Group's sawnwood factory project can move forward

The administrative court of Hämeenlinna rejected the appeal of the Keski-Suomen piiri ry of the Finnish Nature Conservation Association, which concerned the city council's decision to approve the site plan of Henttalanmäki and the site plan amendment.
- We are satisfied that the entire formula was confirmed. We have submitted an environmental permit application for the factory and we are currently preparing an investment proposal for Metsä Group's board of directors. When the environmental permit application and the investment proposal are approved, we will start earthworks and factory construction during 2023, Metsä Wood's branch manager Jaakko Anttila says.
- The modern technology factory will process renewable northern wood into material-efficient Kerto LVL veneer products for the construction industry. When completed, the factory would create new jobs both locally and in the subcontracting chain of wood procurement. The employment effects of the construction phase are estimated to be around 1 person-years, Anttila estimates.
- We in the city of Äänekoski are of course also happy that this important project can move forward. It has a significant impact not only on Äänekoski, but on the whole of Finland in these difficult times, mayor Matti Tuononen says.
- Of course, it's unfortunate that it took so long to process the case for reasons beyond the city's control. The Äänekoski city council already approved the plan on December 7.12.2021, 2022, the appeal was initiated in January XNUMX, and only now has a decision been made on the appeal, after more than nine months. It's great that the administrative court took a firm stance on the appeal. In these times, faith and trust in the future is needed.

Flying squirrels will have protected green areas and access
- The site plan has been drawn up taking into account the surveys carried out in the area and aiming to implement the land use solution indicated in the sub-master plans. The project will improve the vitality of Äänekoski and support the development of corporate business in accordance with the city's goals, versus the planning manager Carita Kosonen says.
According to the administrative court's decision, the area of the northern part of the plan cannot be considered a breeding or resting place defined by the flying squirrel's habitat directive and the nature conservation act. The area also cannot be considered a suitable habitat for the flying squirrel, to which the flying squirrel would probably return and which, based on the precautionary principle, should not be zoned as an industrial area.
In addition, the administrative court considered that, taking into account the reports received on the presence of the flying squirrel in the southern forest areas, the fact that access routes remain in the forest areas suitable for the flying squirrel's habitat, and in addition, protective green areas have been assigned to the area, the approved planning solution does not mean the destruction of the breeding or resting place of the flying squirrel or weakening.
Increase building rights by almost 900 floor square meters
The Henttalanmäki plan project is significant: with the new plan, the area will have more building rights for the construction of almost 900 square meters, and the area of the planning area is approximately 000 hectares. The area is located two kilometers from the center of Äänekoski, in the Henttalanmäki area, and in the immediate vicinity of the current bioproduct factory.
The administrative court decided that the city council did not abuse its discretion when approving the plan. The council's decision is not against the law based on the grounds presented in the appeal, and there is no reason to overturn it.
The administrative court rejected the appeal with legal costs. The decision of the Administrative Court can be appealed by appealing to the Supreme Administrative Court only if it grants permission to appeal.

For more information:
City manager Matti Tuononen, 040 572 3239, matti.tuononen@aanekoski.fi
Vs. planning manager Carita Kosonen, 0400 115 241, carita.kosonen@aanekoski.fi
Jaakko Anttila, branch manager of Metsä Wood, 050 406 0614, jaakko.anttila@metsagroup.com
News published 14.11.2022, modified 14.5.2024/07/51 at XNUMX:XNUMX