Environment ministers unveils draft bill on building permits, unauthorised buidlings

Skourletis said the bill puts prevention, transparency and protection of the environment first and aims to address the causes that led to the anarchic and unauthorised built environment in Greece.

One of the main goals of the new bill is to create an electronic record of the building space in Greece, introducing an observatory of the built environment and an electronic identity for buildings, including records of what is legal and what is not.

Regarding plans to reduce fines for unauthorised buildings and introduction of social criteria, the ministry's aim is to obtain a full record of the building stock of the country and enable all buildings to become legal, though not after the July 28, 2011 cut-off date. Unauthorised buildings erected after that date will be immediately demolished if still in the construction phase, while the fines will equal 100-150 pct of the tax office valuation of the property if they found after completion.

For buildings constructed before 2011 there will be a two-year extension of the time given to pay fines and legalise the building, as well as other measures to make the package more appealing. Tsironis noted that buildings on beaches, forests, archaeological sites and other 'sensitive' areas will continue to be barred from legalisation.

The draft bill will undergo a period of public consultation lasting until September 22.

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