Expansion under certain conditions
In recent years the state has tried to put a stop to the unfettered expansion of seaside housing by creating new and specific laws covering construction. «These areas are referred to as Special Town Planning Zones (PERPO), according to Law 2508/97,» Greek Technical Chamber president Yiannis Alavanos told Kathimerini. «Ministerial decisions have already established general PERPO guidelines for the seven prefectures of Evia, Aitoloacarnania, Magnesia, Preveza, Fthiotida, Rhodope and Rethymnon.» The Technical Chamber of Greece believes seaside housing development should only be allowed in organized areas that have been prepared for it – either on the outskirts of existing settlements or in PERPO. «Some conditions must be set in order to rationalize the situation. Scattered building in areas that are outside the town plan and without infrastructure must be strictly forbidden and the deviations related to the integrity of plots of land smaller than 4 hectares must be abolished,» Alavanos said. He argued that special town-planning studies related to the overall management of coastal areas and clearly oriented toward sustainable development must be promoted and implemented. «And,» he concluded, «local government authorities must complete the general town-planning studies (for areas with more than 2,000 inhabitants) or Housing Development Plans (for areas with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants), which determine land use and the average building coefficient both in areas with planned housing and areas outside the town plan.»
