End of the obligation to install natural gas in new buildings

In abolition her mandatory installation networks gases fuel on new ones buildingsan obligation which was valid with Presidential Decree of 1987 it progresses Ministry of Environment and Energy.

With a setting included in the “bill – broom” given by the minister Theodore Skylakakis in a public consultation until November 13, it is announced the repeal of the above-mentioned P.D. which had made it mandatory in Attica to install a natural gas network in new buildings.

The fundraising draft law has also included provisions concerning the certification of the adequacy of landscaped plots, even the installation of photovoltaic panels at the ends of staircases, as well as several “services” provisions.

Missing, however, is any reference to regulations regarding off-plan construction, as well as the arbitrary category 5 issues, which the leadership of the ministry has pledged to proceed legislatively.

The main provisions of the bill under consultation are the following:

Obligation to plant plants in photovoltaic stations

The owners of photovoltaic plants are obliged during their installation and in any case before their electrification – to plant and maintain throughout their operation, around the installation (in some subdivisions and within it), plants compatible with the vegetation of the area , taking into account the soil substrate and the possibility of irrigation.

Establishment of urban planning and environmental levy

It is imposed on companies with activities that have a strong environmental footprint, a compensatory urban planning levy to strengthen actions that compensate for the burden on the environment. The money collected will be used for environmental protection actions.

Of course, the regulation is accompanied by the granting of deviations in terms of the percentage of coverage, the building factor, the maximum permitted height and the volume factor in areas of Industrial – Industrial Parks and industrial areas 1.

Before the issuance of the decisions of par. 3, for the above, a compensatory urban planning contribution of ten percent (10%) of the contractual budget cost of the part of the project corresponding to the deviation shall be paid by the interested party to a special account of the Green Fund or five per thousand (5‰) in the event that an analytical budget is used to finance actions that compensate for the burden on the environment.

“Derogations” in ports

With regard to ports, it is stipulated that a special building regulation for the construction of buildings and facilities, the placement of temporary structures and the configuration of uncovered areas within of the land zone of ports, so as to serve the uses and functions developed within this zone, according to their destination. For matters not regulated by the above special building regulation, the New Building Regulation applies, while euntil the approval of the special building regulation, with the presidential decrees of para. a) derogations may be approved by the NOK regarding the height and the factor by volume of exploitation of warehouses, logistics facilities and other special buildings and facilities, as and the distances between buildings and facilities.

Land use

The draft law stipulates that activities that were legally established and operate in areas without defined land uses can continue to operate, in the event that the land use is determined by the first level urban planning with which they become incompatible and are not obliged to relocate , as long as their removal is not explicitly required. The expansion of these activities is possible within the space or field where they operated before the determination of the land use and within the limits of the degree of nuisance, as these are determined based on the last valid approval or notification of operation.

Preservation of the adequacy of plots in special cases of forced expropriation

According to the regulation, as a rule, even and buildable plots of land within the limits of settlements of less than two thousand (2,000) inhabitants, which remain as a result of forced expropriations for the widening of municipal roads, without compensation to the owners, are considered even and buildable, even if they do not meet the conditions of adequacy, as long as at least seventy percent (70%) of the original area remains after the expropriation, otherwise they are expropriated and compensated in their entirety.

As an exception, open-air parking lots in the historical center of Athens

The draft law stipulates that undeveloped plots of land located within the administrative boundaries of the traditional part of the city of Athens (Historical Center), can function as parking lots, in derogation of existing land uses, with a validity of three years and the possibility of extension for an additional three years under the condition of perimeter planting of a mobile type planter, at least two meters high.

The provision does not apply to undeveloped plots located within the Acropolis Protection Zone, declared expropriable or expropriated for archaeological purposes.

Exemption from the participation in the mobility cycles of the employees of the Forestry Policy Implementation Inspectionsfor two years. The procedures for their participation in mobility will start from October 20, 2025.”

Filling the positions of the heads of the departments of the “Fixed Assets Company EYDAP”

The draft law extends until June 30, 2024 the appointment of temporary employees or the assignment of duties to members of the Company’s Board of Directors, by decision of the Minister of Environment and Energy.

National Biodiversity Strategy Review

The duration of the National Strategy for Biodiversity is changing, from 15 to 10 years and it is possible to review it every 5 years, in order – taking into account the climate crisis – to be able to adapt to the rapidly changing conditions of the natural environment, as well as to political developments at European and global level.

Incentives to improve energy efficiency in street lighting installations

In order to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, actions related to the upgrading of street lighting facilities under the jurisdiction of OTAs A’ and B’ grade are being promoted. The relevant funding is provided by resources of the Recovery and Resilience Fund.

Actions for energy upgrading of public buildings, infrastructures and public facilities

In order to improve the energy efficiency of the public building stock of infrastructure and facilities owned or used by Public Sector bodies (in particular thermostats), actions and a mechanism for monitoring their implementation are established for reasons of transparency.

Waste pollution prevention and remediation

In cases where “serious” or “very serious” damage or a “high” risk of environmental degradation has been established by the competent inspection bodies, and the polluter does not implement the compliance actions imposed on him, a mechanism for immediate and rapid restoration of the pollution or environmental degradation by the Ministry of Environment and Energy, with attribution of the relevant expenditure to the operator of the polluting activity.

Logging works DEDDIE

The ability of the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (DEDDIE) to intervene by carrying out logging operations (e.g. pruning), which improve the quality of life of citizens and reduce the risk of fires, is being expanded. A fact, which leads to addressing problems in the infrastructure of the overhead electricity distribution network (e.g. DEDDIE poles), which may be caused by extreme weather phenomena, as well as to the acceleration of work to strengthen the network’s adequacy.

Extension of deadlines for the implementation of RES projects in the areas affected by the bad weather “Daniel” and the bad weather “Elias”

An extension is granted to the deadlines for the construction of stations installed in the areas affected by the extreme weather phenomenon “Daniel”, as well as the bad weather “Elias” and declared a state of civil protection emergency. Exclusively for hydroelectric plants, the possibility is provided with each modification request to restart the deadlines set for their licensing.

Installation of photovoltaic panels at the ends of stairs

For reasons of energy saving, it becomes possible to install photovoltaics at the ends of stairs, as long as they follow a specific slope, to protect against rainwater.

Data centers

The proposed bill seeks to establish a simplified framework, where it will be clearly defined how data centers will operate. At the same time, through the draft law, the issue of the specific building and urban planning requirements of data centers is addressed. Among other things, their definition is given, their categories are distinguished, the procedure for notifying their operation is determined, the mandatory observance of standards for their fire protection is foreseen, as well as the building conditions and permitted land uses.

Elaboration and implementation of a Local Waste Management Plan by the Public Users Management Body within the Hellinikon – Agios Kosmas Metropolitan Pole, instead of the municipality, as foreseen.