Incentives will be foreseen in the ongoing urban planning, said the Minister of Environment and Energy Theodoros Skylakakisafter the decision of the Council of Ministers on the New Building Regulation (NOK).

In detail, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement:

“The decision of the Council of the Territory (StE) on the New Building Regulation (a 2012 legislation) concerns – primarily – its jurisprudence on the constitutionally foreseen need for local, urban planning.

It is important that this decision does not affect any existing building (apart from those that are already the subject of an appeal), whether it has been completed or in any way work has begun on it. Something that would create very serious legal uncertainty and negatively affect thousands of citizens and professionals.

At the same time, it is important that this decision confirms the possibility of having, where necessary for environmental or other reasons, special incentives (bonus) with regard to heightsat roofson planted roofsetc. And this is important, because these tools are absolutely necessary to deal with the consequences of climate change, especially in densely built-up areas, as the way our megacities are currently structured (large coverage, with low height) makes them unsustainable long-term in an environment of worsening climate crisis and increased temperatures. These incentives will therefore be foreseen, where this becomes necessary, in the context of the local, urban planning, which is in progress, with a corresponding legislative initiative of the government, which will be undertaken immediately, so that there is visibility and legal security.

After all, the government has been implementing for three years the largest local planning program since the creation of the Greek State, which will allow us to establish in a legally indisputable way incentives, such as those contained in the NOK, where they are really necessary.

At the same time, we will undertake multiple initiativesin order to limit the phenomena of local corruption, linked to the application of urban planning legislation. Phenomena which from the case of Halkidiki which was revealed today, it follows that they can be widespread in areas and even acquire the status of a criminal organization”.