Urbanisation is one of the most significant global megatrends and, as a result, major cities are facing multiple challenges. In this study, we contribute to the sustainable urban development debate and examine the relation between housing density and infrastructure costs. The analysis is based on four hypothetical design prototypes and a consistent cost calculation framework. Based on the results, infrastructure costs per capita are the highest in low-density areas and the lowest in high-density areas, if parking is excluded. However, if also construction costs of parking structures are included, the costs per capita are the highest in high-density areas. Considering the notably high cost impact of parking structures and people’s limited willingness to pay for parking, municipally zoned parking requirements in urban areas are likely to result in non-optimal land use. Furthermore, construction in poor soil conditions may only be considered feasible if the floor area ratio and residential densities are relatively high. Beyond the cost benefits, the number of residents that may be accommodated is crucial and higher density in central urban locations should be promoted. We also suggest the cost of urban greenness to be reasonable relative to its many reported benefits and conclude that denser urban structure should not be pursued at the expense of green spaces.

It is widely agreed that dynamics of building stocks are relatively poorly known even if it is recognized to be an important research topic. Better understanding of building stock dynamics and future development is crucial, e.g., for sustainable management of the built environment as various analyses require long-term projections of building stock development. Recognizing the uncertainty in relation to long-term modeling, we propose a transparent calculation-based QuantiSTOCK model for modeling building stock development. Our approach not only provides a tangible tool for understanding development when selected assumptions are valid but also, most importantly, allows for studying the sensitivity of results to alternative developments of the key variables. Therefore, this relatively simple modeling approach provides fruitful grounds for understanding the impact of different key variables, which is needed to facilitate meaningful debate on different housing, land use, and environment-related policies. The QuantiSTOCK model may be extended in numerous ways and lays the groundwork for modeling the future developments of building stocks. The presented model may be used in a wide range of analyses ranging from assessing housing demand at the regional level to providing input for defining sustainable pathways towards climate targets. Due to the availability of high-quality data, the Finnish building stock provided a great test arena for the model development.

As a result of the ongoing urbanization megatrend, cities have an increasingly critical role in the search for sustainability. To create sustainable strategies for cities and to follow up if they induce desired effects proper metrics on the inter and intra-urban development is needed. In this paper, we analyze the sustainability development in the 20 largest cities in Finland through a residential area classification framework. The results based on high-quality register data show concerning trends in some sustainability measures, and divergent trends between cities and residential areas within. Overall, while densities have increased modestly, we see no clear signs of decreasing car ownership rates. Further, also manifestations of social sustainability seem to be insufficient in many locations–especially in residential mid-rise areas from the '60s and '70s, and '80s and '90s.

Purpose: Even as multi-story apartment building development proposals in existing neighbourhoods represent a substantial component of policy debate at local planning boards, there is limited evidence for the impact of such residential developments on surrounding apartment values. This paper aims to address the void in knowledge, and the impact of multi-story apartment building developments on apartment values in residential high-rise areas located outside city and district centres is investigated in Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland.Design/methodology/approach: Whether a multi-story apartment building development is followed by an increase in housing values depends on both positive and negative externalities. To specify valuation effects of proximate development projects, advanced research design combining matched sample methodology and hedonic-based difference-in-difference approach is used.Findings: It appears from the analysis that completion of a single multi-story apartment building has an immediate positive impact on apartment values within 300 metre radius, while there is no statistically significant impact on price trend.Research limitations/implications: This paper studies apartment values only in Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland, and it is important to notice that local regulations and market conditions may have a notable impact on the outcomes.Originality/value: This study is the first of its kind to provide with statistically significant evidence for positive impacts from multi-story apartment building development in Finnish residential high-rise areas and may have a crucial role in helping to dispel prejudices related to such developments.