Urban planning

Today marks the end of an "era" for Sofia's low-emission zone, which ceases to operate after being introduced on December 1 last year. The zone, encompassing the central area of the city known as the "small ring," covered key thoroughfares such as "Vasil Levski" and "Patriarch Evtimii" boulevards, along with streets like "Gen. Skobelev," "Oplchenska," and "Slivnitsa" boulevard.

The Environment Ministry is standing firm behind its decision to encourage construction outside zoning areas as the final draft of the new regulations will be put out for public consultation in the next few days, with minor variations, despite the outcry from the scientific community. 

Almost 17,700 undeveloped properties outside zoning areas have been sold in the last five years in the islands of the South Aegean and Ionian Sea alone, and of these, more than a third are in the Cyclades chain. 

Türkiye's population data for 2023 has revealed the trend of "reverse migration," as more people are now opting for a life in villages and towns due to the rising cost of living in cities as well as the appeal of a quiet life for retirees and agricultural production for younger people.

Thirteen of Greece's environmental NGOs are calling for the withdrawal of the proposed legislation for construction outside town zoning areas, presented earlier in the month by the Environment Ministry.

In a statement, the NGOs argue the proposed regulations will lead to uncontrolled construction in rural areas, with long-term consequences - not least for the environment. 

The Environment Ministry has presented its legislative proposals for construction outside designated zoning areas to the cabinet. Although the text of the draft law has not been disclosed, there is a prevailing impression that it aims to facilitate off-plan building activity.

Amid the unprecedented explosion of real estate and construction, especially on the islands as of 2017, the Environment Ministry presented new regulations to the cabinet on Tuesday that encourages building activity outside town zoning areas.

Within the next year, possibly by June, a contractor is expected for the construction of a business park in an area of 450,000 square meters in the Spilies area at Fyli, north of Athens, where approximately 400 transport companies will be relocated from Elaionas.

Although it pulled the plug on a marina which would accompany a tourist development in Kalo Livadi on Mykonos, the Council of State rejected two other appeals against the project, ruling that it was correct to exclude large tourist investments from the general suspension of issuing new building permits for tourist units in areas of the island outside planning zones.

As the climate crisis worsens and our country finds itself on the frontline, we need to look at what we are doing - as a state and as citizens - to change our behavior, to limit the damage we are causing the environment and to adapt to the consequences of our failure.