Reconversion of former military sites into industrial parks

From pre-accession funds, the EU funded a study on reconversion of former military sites around 45 minutes drive from Tallinn in Estonia. Fully-fledged regional analyses were carried out for Lääne-Viru and Harju to determine potentials and possible origins of investment funds. Tapa is a major rail junction (and continues functioning as an army base) whereas Paldiski hosts air and naval bases and features a harbour with regular connections to Scandinavia and other European ports.

As usual under RegioFuturi’s structured development support, the following activities were conducted:

• a review of the regional background based on official/statistical data
• questionnaire-based surveys of enterprises and local administrations, virtually all of these face-to-face so as to get a good feeling of the situation on the ground
• presentation and discussions of findings in a participative planning workshop
• strategy and action plan, including proposals for potential industrial park projects
• design of an industrial park project in Tapa, based on existing municipal plans
• study trip to military conversion projects in Germany and Hungary

The concept for Tapa was agreed as follows:

• Develop the industrial park on the former military site (with a management concept developed by the project team)
• Focus on woodworking and engineering enterprises
• Develop a state-of-the art woodworking training centre
• Improve the rail connection to Tallinn
• Elaborate a policy to promote tourism to the area

For Paldiski, the development strategy was to be based on the following points:

• Make available premises for logistical and industrial purposes and market the locations professionally
• Try to attract at least one research institute to Paldiski
• Make sure that vocational and professional education is in line with market needs (for instance tourism, logistics)
• Draw up land-use plans clearly defining protected areas and zones reserved for recreational purposes
• Improve the quality of rail services to Tallinn
• Elaborate a policy to promote tourism to the area

The project led to an Interreg III B Baltic Sea Region co-operation  First Class Industrial Parks