Building bonus with an asterisk

The Council of State has approved, with remarks, a statesmanlike decree clarifying however gathering permits issued under the New Building Code (NOK) tin proceed aft a bid of tribunal rulings froze construction.

According to accusation seen by Kathimerini, the decree – submitted for reappraisal successful June – was deemed lawful, though the tribunal requested that an biology pre-assessment beryllium carried retired successful cases where buildings are legalized by exception.

The agelong deliberation period, implicit 4 months for a four-page text, reflected the seriousness of the issue, which has blocked galore operation projects.

The last sentiment is expected to beryllium published successful the coming days.

The decree implements Law 5197/25, enacted aft the Council of State annulled the broad exertion of gathering incentives.

It defines two cardinal aspects: what constitutes the “start of construction” – acceptable arsenic work begun by December 11, 2024 – and under what conditions projects halted by tribunal orders tin proceed exceptionally.

The country’s highest administrative tribunal introduced an further request that earlier the “special plan” for biology offsets is approved, an biology pre-assessment indispensable find whether a Strategic Environmental Impact Study is needed.

Under the decree, an “environmental equivalent” interest will beryllium paid into a special relationship astatine the Deposits and Loans Fund and allocated exclusively to the applicable municipality for section biology projects.

This determination efficaciously allows buildings halted owed to ineligible challenges to resume operation with added tallness and area, provided work had begun by the December deadline.

Officials expect renewed enactment successful areas such arsenic Alimos, Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni, Kifissia and cardinal Athens, where galore projects had been suspended.

The Environment Ministry expects that the compensation payments to municipalities will easiness section absorption to the resumption of construction.