The Raisio City Council reviewed, on November 18, 2024, a proposal for a planning reservation for a 40-hectare area in the Kantokangas business area. The reservation concerns a 400,000-square-meter plot located along Highway 8, north of Kantokangas. The planning reservation is proposed on behalf of the project company (CompassForge Ventures), named by NCC Suomi Oy and Virtanen Yhtiöt, and would be valid until November 4, 2025.
The goal of the project company is to design and build a data center in the area that utilizes green energy. The company comprises several partners with experience in similar projects. The implementation of the project partly relies on Fingrid’s new 400 kV power line project, which runs through the Kantokangas business area.
Director of Urban Development Samu Mattila considers the project highly interesting for both the Turku region and Raisio. If realized, it would have both direct and indirect positive impacts. The Kantokangas business area has approximately 100 hectares of reserved business land, making this a significant allocation for the city and the area’s development.
Esa Lehmusvuori, Business Unit Director at NCC Building, emphasizes that NCC has extensive experience in demanding data center projects in Finland and other Nordic countries. According to him, the data center construction concept leverages Finland’s geographical location for global use. A key focus area for NCC’s future is investing in the green industrial transition, particularly using green energy.
No reservation fee will be charged for the planning reservation. The pricing of the area is still under review due to the ongoing zoning process. Construction of the area will require zoning and municipal infrastructure development and pricing by the city, which justifies the one-year planning reservation. Pricing and allocation procedures will be addressed as the zoning progresses during the actual reservation or planning reservation agreement.
The Kantokangas business area is located near Highway 8, making it an attractive location for businesses. The area’s infrastructure is continuously being developed, including the extension of Kankaantie to the north and new roads such as Sorakuja and Moreenikuja.
The significance of data centers in today’s digital society is immense. They enable data transmission, processing, and storage, which are essential for businesses and consumers. Raisio’s investment in data center infrastructure supports regional economic growth, creates new jobs, and enhances global digital competitiveness.
