Greece’s highest administrative court, the Council of State, has temporarily blocked the construction of two underground housing complexes with swimming pools on the Cycladic island of Sifnos, one of which was planned as a hotel.

The court’s suspension committee cited concerns over extensive construction in non-urbanized areas, the use of illegally opened roads for building permits, and the proliferation of underground structures and swimming pools, which are not permitted under the island’s protective zoning decree.

The ruling (34/2025) came in response to an appeal by three citizens – two Sifnos residents and a vacation home owner – who sought to halt four building permits for projects in the Skourialos area of Apollonia. While the court denied the suspension of two permits where construction had already progressed, it imposed it for the other two, citing irreversible harm to the island’s character.

The ruling stated that the committee finds that these projects would damage Sifnos’ identity and cause irreparable harm to its protected natural and residential environment.

Attorney Giorgos Liolios, representing the plaintiffs, stated that Sifnos is under significant pressure due to private urbanization in non-zoned areas for tourism purposes. He pointed out that strict building regulations are either violated or arbitrarily interpreted by authorities or developers, while the issuance of building permits is automated, with no legal oversight.

The Municipality of Sifnos has urged the Environment Ministry to tighten building restrictions, proposing stricter land-use rules, banning underground construction, and limiting swimming pools to hotels. Mayor Maria Nadali warned of unchecked expansion. “By the time a new urban plan is completed, irreversible changes could have already taken place,” she said.

The ministry has yet to act, despite a similar request in 2023. Meanwhile, local authorities continue to push for stricter controls to protect the island’s landscape.

Source: Ekathimerini.com