The hotel complex under construction by “Ble Kedros,” a company linked to Paul Evmorfidis (COCO-MAT), on Xifias beach in Monemvasia, has sparked reactions from residents over potential environmental impact, according to an investigation by Data Journalists.
The concerns are based on the fact that part of the 17-stremma (approx. 1.7 hectares) site had been classified as a forest area since 1994, and although previous requests for reclassification had been rejected, the decision changed under the new ownership of the land in 2021.
Additionally, although it appears as a single unit of 22 beds and 59 bungalows, there are fears that permits may be requested in stages in order to avoid the (mandatory) environmental impact assessment required for such a large development.
Furthermore, the area is located next to the Natura 2000 network. However, there is a legal gap: protection mainly applies to the marine zone and not necessarily the coastline, leaving the beach effectively unprotected. On the beaches of Xifias, particularly at Ampelakia, sea turtles have been recorded nesting.
Although part of a COCO-MAT hotel in Athens has been ruled illegal and the Council of State has imposed fines, it has not yet been demolished.
“It is such a large-scale project that it understandably causes concern,” said Nelly Koutsandrea, president of the Nomia Community of Monemvasia, speaking to Data Journalists. The investigation notes that residents of Monemvasia do not declare themselves “against development,” but call for respect for the area’s carrying capacity and for compliance with the law without “loopholes.”
The OFYPEKA, following an inspection in January 2025, found that although the hotel is exempt from environmental licensing due to its size, available evidence indicates a broader plan for the development of 59 residences, without clear information about permits.
The agency emphasizes that it had not been informed about the project’s permit and explicitly calls for a full environmental assessment process covering all activities, with particular attention to impacts on protected habitats and species, such as the Caretta caretta.
Πηγή: Data Journalists
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