Helsingin Sanomat looks at the cost of building lower-cost 'Hitas' apartments, which are commissioned by Helsinki council and sold at below-market prices. The price of Hitas flats is also controlled when they're sold on, which in theory should create a supply of affordable, owner-occupied housing.
That's the theory, but HS reports on a controversy over the amount paid to construction firms working on new projects. HS is following up on reports in the freesheet Helsingin Uutiset, which found that the SRV company serves as both developer and building contractor on one project in the Arabianranta district, allowing it to make more profit than the city's rules would normally allow.
SRV had taken over the project from the social landlord VVO in 2009, avoiding the competition with Helsinki's own construction office that usually accompanies a Hitas project. Now reports suggest SRV made more than four million euros in additional profit--on what is supposed to be a lower-cost housing project.
HU had also raised the issue of additional work in newly-built flats. SRV installed plastic flooring as standard, and any higher-quality materials would cost extra. Helsinki politicians are quoted by HS as saying they'll look into what should be included in the construction cost, and what is really an extra service.
Ministerial speed under scrutiny
Iltalehti has the latest on Monday's car crash involving Interior Minister Päivi Räsänen, with an eyewitness claiming that the ministerial car had been speeding before the collision. The incident happened near the Russian border when Räsänen was on the way to visit the Vaalimaa border post, and she was taken to hospital afterwards before being discharged on Tuesday with bruising to her chest and abdomen.
IL reports that the trip with Prime Minister Alexander Stubb was originally supposed to be made by helicopter, but poor weather conditions prevented the pilot from taking off. IL's eyewitness claims to have been travelling at the speed limit of 80 kilometres an hour, and to have been overtaken by the minister's vehicle.
Police said that they had not yet received information that the minister's car had been travelling too fast.
Valio exports non-Finnish cheese
Russian sanctions on EU foodstuffs have hit Finnish dairy firm Valio hard. Before the sanctions around a fifth of the company's turnover came from exports to Russia, so Valio is understandably keen to keep some market visibility in Russia even now, when Finnish products are unwelcome. Iltasanomat reports that the company may have found a solution.
The paper reports that a new range of premium cheeses, including 'Tilsit' and 'Gouda', are now on sale in Russian shops under the Valio label. They're not, however, made in Finland or Russia.
"We've searched high and low for replacement cheeses that would be of such quality that we could dare to put out brand on them," IS quotes Valio's Mika Koskinen as saying. They did eventually find an acceptable producer--but won't say where it is.