Future trends

Sponda has identified urbanisation, climate change, a growing need for communality and digitalisation as the trends that are most significant to its operations. These trends impact not only our business operations, but also the development of the property industry as a whole.

More information on how trends affect Sponda, and our responses to them, is available under Sponda’s future solutions table below.

Urbanisation

In the future, the world’s population will become increasingly concentrated in urban areas. At present, more than 70 per cent¹ of Finns live in cities or on the outskirts of cities, and the trend of migration to growth centres in southern Finland, in particular, is expected to continue. Accordingly, Sponda’s aim is to focus its property portfolio on central areas in Helsinki and Tampere. In addition to zoning and property development, good public transport plays a key role in the sustainable growth of urban areas.

¹ Sitra 2015 http://www.sitra.fi/en/artikkelit/future/sitra-trends-roles-cities-are-growing

Climate change

The Earth’s average temperature is predicted to rise in Finland by as much as six degrees² by 2100 if greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase at the current rate. The built environment plays a significant role in mitigating climate change - the energy efficiency requirements for properties and the industry as a whole will increase further due to climate change. Environmental requirements are an area of particular focus in Sponda’s property development operations, property maintenance, and the use of properties.

² Sitra 2013

Communality

Modern urban communality is often created through digital interaction. However, people also have a need to meet face to face, both at work and in their free time. Finland is already one of the European leaders in remote work, with 25 per cent of Finns performing part of their work duties outside the workplace³. Variability in how work is performed is set to increase in the future. This will see increased significance for the workplace as a social and pleasant meeting place: an effective work environment provides space for collaborative idea generation as well as the performance of tasks that require greater concentration. Multispace offices have been estimated to create a greater sense of cohesion in workplaces⁴. Sponda’s response to this need includes the creation of a new coworking office concept in 2015. Shopping centres will also play an increasingly important role in creating communal meeting places in the future.

³ Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy 2014 https://www.tem.fi/files/42223/TEMrap_9_2015_web_13022015.pdf

⁴ Building Information Foundation RTS, Building Information Ltd and the Association of Finnish Construction Managers and Engineers AMK RKL 2013

Digitalisation

In the future, various digital services will make daily life more convenient, and goods and services will be increasingly purchased online. Online commerce has seen significant growth in Finland, nearly 20 per cent over a period of five years⁵. The transformation of retail presents new challenges and opportunities to brick-and-mortar shops and shopping centres.

⁵ TNS Gallup 2015 https://www.tns-gallup.fi/uutiset/tavaroiden-verkkokauppa-kasvaa-taantumasta-huolimatta

Sponda’s future solutions

Future trend	Effect on the industry and Sponda	Sponda’s actions
Urbanisation	Population concentrates in cities An increasing need for business premises and retail services in growth centres Development of public transportation	Focusing the property portfolio on the city centres of Helsinki and Tampere, and the developing districts of these cities Property assets with good public transport access Active property development Urban development in co-operation with the authorities
Climate change	Increasing requirements related to the energy efficiency of properties and the industry as a whole Properties are exposed to extreme weather phenomena Increasing upward pressure on energy costs	Energy-efficient construction in both new property development and renovation projects Preparing for extreme weather phenomena in co-operation with the maintenance network Drafting proactive energy contracts Co-operation with customers and partners to reduce the environmental impact of properties
Communality	As working remotely becomes increasingly common, there is a growing need for office spaces that support communality Shopping centres play an increasingly significant role in supporting communality and providing entertainment	Developing solutions that support communality in office spaces Developing shopping centre concepts Creating a new office space concept
Digitalisation	The digitalisation of retail presents new challenges and opportunities to brick-and-mortar shops and shopping centres Changes in purchasing behaviour Work irrespective of time and place creates new demands on office environments	Utilising digital services in retail premises Improving digital capacity in office premises Development of Sponda’s services and business premises solutions Creating a new office space concept