Green Groups Appeal for Multibillion-euro Hellinikon Project to Stop

The Hellenikon project.

The multibillion Hellinikon project set to be erected at the former Athens airport near the coastal suburb of Glyfada, is yet again about to be put on hold after local residents and environmental groups took the case to Greece’s highest court.

Two environmental groups have called on the Council of State to annul a presidential decree issued recently that gives the project an official go-ahead. In their appeal, the two groups claim the project is “unconstitutional and illegal with regard to a large section of forest area”.

The 8-billion-euro project to develop the former airport complex into a metropolitan park and business hub has been running into one hurdle after another including reactions to the creation of a casino on there premises, ancient finds and forest areas.

According to the latest intervention, claimants say there is a lack of transparency with regard to forest land on the premises which according to a recent study should be maintained and re-forestated. Some 507 residents from the surrounding suburbs of Hellinikon, Agios Kosmas and Argyroupolis have filed the appeal.

In the meantime, late last month Odysseus Athanasiou, CEO of investor Lamda Development, said he was optimistic that works along the Athenian Riviera could begin next year.

Photos: https://thehellinikon.com