The Municipality of Kifisia expressed its opposing stance to the amendment submitted yesterday by the Ministry of Environment and Energy to parliament regarding building heights where the mayor of Kifissia Vasilis Xypolitas, further announced mobilisation to revoke building permits that include the bonuses outlined in the Building Regulation.
Mr. Xypolitas participated yesterday in an event organised by the Hellenic Society for the Environment and Culture (HELSEC) on the impact of the Building Regulation bonuses in Kifisia, stating that there are already 2,000 signatures opposing the implementation of the “bonuses” in the municipality. Among those resisting are entrepreneurs and politicians residing in the Athens suburb.
Participants in yesterday’s HELSEC event spoke about construction with large volumes and additional floors, resulting in the construction of giant buildings in Kifisia despite the protection sought for the city’s building sector through presidential decrees for the area.
Architect Mr. Nikos Vratsanos highlighted the burden placed on citizens, who must act as watchdogs whenever they witness construction activities, due to the constant demolition of single and two-story residences in Kifisia to make room for taller buildings. This trend is linked to the Council of State’s decisions and private individuals’ preemptive actions to exploit favourable provisions in the existing Building Regulation.
In response to tensions in suburban municipalities, the Ministry of Environment and Energy adjusted building bonus regulations. However, while interventions in high-coefficient areas fall short of expectations, there are constraints in low-coefficient zones. Specifically, the recent parliamentary amendment excludes areas with coefficients up to 0.8 from bonuses allowing a 10% to 25% increase in building coefficient and 1 meter in height (Article 10). The amendment also affects Article 15 on additional height for green roofs. However, it does not impact Article 19, allowing up to 4.2 meters of additional height for planted roofs, and Article 25, concerning additional coefficients for energy-efficient buildings.
Under the new transitional regime, the combined effect of Article 10 and the height bonuses outlined in Article 15 for green roofs, capped at an extra 2 meters, cannot exceed 2.5 meters for coefficients between 0.8 and 1.6, and 3 meters for coefficients greater than 1.6. Additionally, the regulation permits the use of the height bonus specified in Article 15, providing an additional 2 meters, in areas with coefficients up to 0.8. The amendment mandates that this new framework will come into effect starting from May 1st and remain in place until at least the end of 2025.
