Northern Athens Mayors Oppose Building Rights Transfer
by Athens Bureau · Greek City TimesMayors across northern Athens are opposing a proposed building rights transfer that could allow 584,400 extra square metres of construction in already densely built suburbs.
They warned that further building would strain roads, parking, transport networks and public infrastructure. It would also cut green space and residents’ quality of life.
In particular, Halandri would take the largest proposed increase, at 217,300 square metres. The dispute matters for suburbs already under pressure on housing and daily services. Greek City Times has reported on Athens rents.
“We want infrastructure, not additional construction,” Nea Ionia Mayor Panagiotis Manouris said. He argued, however, that the Athens basin needs to expand horizontally, rather than take taller apartment buildings.
Read more: What €1 Million Buys You In Attica Luxury Property Market
Filothei-Psychiko Mayor Haralambos Bonatsos said his municipality would not accept a building rights transfer as a receiving zone. Similarly, Kifissia Mayor Vassilis Xypolytas rejected changes to the character of residential neighbourhoods.
Halandri Mayor Simos Roussos said stormwater drainage and transport networks were already overstretched.
Following those comments, mayors of Papagou-Holargos and Lykovrysi-Pefki called for the proposal to be withdrawn. They cited inadequate schools, green spaces and infrastructure.
Local leaders said they would submit objections during the consultation. They would pursue legal action if the government proceeds.
Lykovrysi-Pefki Mayor Marios Psychalis said his municipality would appeal to Greece’s Council of State if the government approves the plan.
The Environment and Energy Ministry has set out the building rights transfer in a study. It covers receiving zones for the northern sector of Attica. That work forms part of the Konstantinos Doxiadis urban planning reform program.
At the same time, officials have put a strategic environmental impact study out for public comment. The Municipality of Halandri republished that notice on 6 November.
It invited written comments to the ministry’s environmental licensing directorate within 60 days of publication on the ministry site. The full consultation file is on the ministry’s website, and at its offices on Amaliados Street in Athens.
However, no receiving zone has approval yet. A building rights transfer would let extra floor area move onto plots in designated zones. That would add height and density where the study allows it.
In the meantime, the government has been trying to ease housing pressures through separate measures even so, northern mayors say their municipalities need infrastructure first.
Until the consultation closes, residents and local authorities can still lodge objections to the building rights transfer.
Source: Kathimerini
Stay connected to Greek City Times for Free on Google News
Click NOW
Stay updated with the latest news from Greece and around the world on greekcitytimes.com.
Contact our newsroom to share your updates, stories, photos, or videos. Follow GCT on WhatsApp, Google News and Apple News.
Related coverage
Advertising