Construction has yet to begin on a €70m (US$96m, £58m) spa hotel in Lappeenranta, eastern Finland, due to a string of legal disputes. The development was originally scheduled to open in early 2014.
The scheme is a joint venture between two Finnish property investment companies - Ultivista and Conte Invest. The CEO of Ultivista, Sami Alatalo, told Spa Opportunities the legal proceedings mean the project will open by 2017 at the earliest – if the court rules in its favour.
Two complaints were made by members of the public about the building plans and price the land was sold at, according to Finnish media, but both were rejected by the Hallinto-oikeus (administrative court). Another complaint was submitted to the Korkein Hallinto-oikeus (supreme administrative court) last autumn. Final rulings are expected by summer 2014.
The development – called Huhtiniemi – would include three interconnected parts - a 14-storey hotel; a 4,000sq m (43,056sq ft) resort spa; and a 7,000sq m (75,347sq ft) space housing spa villas.
The project will have a total of 500 beds: 350 hotel beds and 150 in the spa's villas.
The development will be built by Buildia, a construction company set up by the joint venture to deliver the project.
Exact details of the spa are yet to be confirmed but it's believed there will be more than 15 treatment rooms, indoor swimming pools, a sauna world and a relaxation area offering panoramic views across Lake Saimaa.
