Greece activates building coefficient transfer system for 194 zones
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Researchers for the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) identified 194 proposed zones for the transfer of building coefficients across 50 municipal units in Greece.
This initiative aims to reactivate a long-dormant legal tool that allows property owners to transfer building rights from restricted areas to designated reception zones. The system was originally established in 1979 to compensate owners whose properties are in protected areas or subject to urban planning restrictions, such as those in traditional settlements.
The Ministry of Environment and Energy reported that there are currently 3,837 active transfer titles representing a total area of 428,602 square meters. Beyond these existing rights, the ministry estimates that additional rights from expropriated or protected properties could reach 16.4 million square meters.
The Council of State, Greece's highest administrative court, ruled between 1994 and 2017 that these transfers must occur only in specific zones that can support the additional construction without compromising the area's environmental or urban planning conditions. The proposed zones are concentrated in major urban centers, with 62 zones in Northern Athens and Eastern Attica, and 55 zones in Central Macedonia. Other areas include 32 zones in Crete, 12 in Magnesia, and 11 in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.
While the system aims to balance urban development, some local authorities, such as the municipality of Dionysos, expressed concerns regarding potential conflicts between these new zones and local urban plans. The Technical Chamber of Greece is currently piloting a Digital Land Bank to manage these transfers, with a goal to fully activate the system by early 2027.
