Thessaloniki Metropolitan Area
Encyclopedia
The Thessaloniki Metropolitan Area or Larger Urban Zone (LUZ) is the complete area covered and directly influenced by Greece's second-largest city, Thessaloniki
. The metropolitan area traditionally consisted of the municipality of Thessaloniki and its immediate surroundings, what is today referred to as the Thessaloniki Urban Area
. However, since the mid to late 1990s, the areas surrounding the urban area, have succumbed to urban sprawl
and what used to be agrarian communities are rapidly urbanizing and being developed into suburbs or exurbs
. This is creating new problems for a region already facing issues such as pollution
, traffic congestion
and social ills.
Thessalonians usually refer to 13 municipalities and one community as the "City of Thessaloniki" (or the Thessaloniki Urban Area
); this is the contiguous densely built-up urban area of the city. However, the metropolitan area
also includes the city's immediate surroundings, adjacent zone of influence and its low to medium density suburbs that surround the densely built-up urban area
.
), in descending order of population are Thessaloniki
, Kalamaria
, Evosmos
, Sykies
, Stavroupoli
, Ampelokipoi
, Polichni
, Neapoli
, Pylaia
, Eleftherio-Kordelio
, Menemeni
, Triandria
, Agios Pavlos
and the community of Efkarpia
.
However, with urban sprawl, more municipalities are being interconnected with the growing region. The region now consists of all the traditional areas noted above as well as the newly emerging suburbs and exurbs to the northwest, north, east and southeast of the city. Also, the industrial areas to the west are becoming more interwoven with the fabric of the city as new infrastructure encroaches on these areas.
Two old suburbs that are increasingly coalescing into the urban area
, due to its expansion and the creation of new transportation networks, are those of Oraiokastro
and Panorama. While Oraiokastro has traditionally been a middle class suburb, Panorama has been a more upscale suburb and is considered as the city's most exclusive.
The main eastern and southeastern suburbs include the municipalities of Thermaikos
, Thermi
, Chortiatis
, Mikra
, Michaniona
, Vasilika
and Epanomi
; while the main western suburbs include the municipalities of Echedoros
and Chalastra
.
A census carried out by Eurostat
in 2004 has revealed an increased population for the metropolitan area or Larger Urban Zone (LUZ) of Thessaloniki of an estimated 995,766 residents (2004), while calculating its real area to be 1455.62 square kilometres (562 sq mi).
The table below lists the municipalities/suburbs of the Thessaloniki Metropolitan Area in bold, among those of the city's Urban Area
. Population and area data from the Greek 2001 Census.
Table source: National Statistical Service of Greece
Floor Area Ratio
s (FAR) are recommended by the national government to manage growth and have been used to deter landowners from building homes outside the growth boundaries (city/town zones) of each suburb. It is common practice to violate the FARs by building structures that are larger than recommended, with many suburban homes being in direct violation of Greek planning laws. Only recently have actions been taken on by the government to extend the growth boundaries, create new much needed urban layouts
and address current issues by introducing new planning laws. However actual implementation of such actions for each municipality is usually expected to be complete in 5 years time, from the time that the government announced it.
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
. The metropolitan area traditionally consisted of the municipality of Thessaloniki and its immediate surroundings, what is today referred to as the Thessaloniki Urban Area
Thessaloniki Urban Area
The Thessaloniki Urban Area is the contiguous densely built-up urban area around the municipality of Thessaloniki, Greece, which is the second largest municipality by population in the country behind Athens. The contiguous built-up area consists of 13 municipalities and forms the urban core of the...
. However, since the mid to late 1990s, the areas surrounding the urban area, have succumbed to urban sprawl
Urban sprawl
Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a multifaceted concept, which includes the spreading outwards of a city and its suburbs to its outskirts to low-density and auto-dependent development on rural land, high segregation of uses Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a...
and what used to be agrarian communities are rapidly urbanizing and being developed into suburbs or exurbs
Commuter town
A commuter town is an urban community that is primarily residential, from which most of the workforce commutes out to earn their livelihood. Many commuter towns act as suburbs of a nearby metropolis that workers travel to daily, and many suburbs are commuter towns...
. This is creating new problems for a region already facing issues such as pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
, traffic congestion
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
and social ills.
Thessalonians usually refer to 13 municipalities and one community as the "City of Thessaloniki" (or the Thessaloniki Urban Area
Thessaloniki Urban Area
The Thessaloniki Urban Area is the contiguous densely built-up urban area around the municipality of Thessaloniki, Greece, which is the second largest municipality by population in the country behind Athens. The contiguous built-up area consists of 13 municipalities and forms the urban core of the...
); this is the contiguous densely built-up urban area of the city. However, the metropolitan area
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
also includes the city's immediate surroundings, adjacent zone of influence and its low to medium density suburbs that surround the densely built-up urban area
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
.
Geography
The municipalities that have been historically associated with the Thessaloniki Metropolitan Area (and are part of the current Thessaloniki Urban AreaThessaloniki Urban Area
The Thessaloniki Urban Area is the contiguous densely built-up urban area around the municipality of Thessaloniki, Greece, which is the second largest municipality by population in the country behind Athens. The contiguous built-up area consists of 13 municipalities and forms the urban core of the...
), in descending order of population are Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
, Kalamaria
Kalamaria
Kalamariá is a municipality of the Thessaloniki Urban Area, located about 7 km southeast of downtown Thessaloniki. It is the second largest municipality of the Thessaloniki Urban Area as well as one of the largest in Greece, with a population increase of 8% since the 1991...
, Evosmos
Evosmos
Evosmos is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kordelio-Evosmos, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It has a land area of 9.927 km²...
, Sykies
Sykies
Sykies is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Neapoli-Sykies, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. The municipal unit population is 41,726...
, Stavroupoli
Stavroupoli
Stavroupoli is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pavlos Melas, of which it is the seat of it and is a municipal unit...
, Ampelokipoi
Ampelokipoi, Thessaloniki
Ampelokipoi is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality of the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality of Ampelokipoi-Menemeni, of which it is a municipal unit. The population is 40,959, as of 2001,...
, Polichni
Polichni
Polichni is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pavlos Melas, of which it is a municipal unit. The population is 36,146 , and it has a land area of...
, Neapoli
Neapoli, Thessaloniki
Neapoli is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Neapoli-Sykies, of which it is a municipal unit...
, Pylaia
Pylaia
Pylaia is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pylaia-Chortiatis, of which it is a municipal unit...
, Eleftherio-Kordelio
Eleftherio-Kordelio
Eleftherio-Kordelio is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality of the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kordelio-Evosmos, of which it is a municipal unit. It gained its present form in 1982,...
, Menemeni
Menemeni
Menemeni is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and a former municipality of the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Ampelokipoi-Menemeni, of which it is a municipal unit. It neighbors Evosmos, Ampelokipoi, Thessaloniki...
, Triandria
Triandria
Triandria is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Thessaloniki, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located east of Thessaloniki's city centre at...
, Agios Pavlos
Agios Pavlos
Agios Pavlos is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality of Neapoli-Sykies, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 7,978 ....
and the community of Efkarpia
Efkarpia
Efkarpia is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pavlos Melas, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 6,598 ....
.
However, with urban sprawl, more municipalities are being interconnected with the growing region. The region now consists of all the traditional areas noted above as well as the newly emerging suburbs and exurbs to the northwest, north, east and southeast of the city. Also, the industrial areas to the west are becoming more interwoven with the fabric of the city as new infrastructure encroaches on these areas.
Two old suburbs that are increasingly coalescing into the urban area
Thessaloniki Urban Area
The Thessaloniki Urban Area is the contiguous densely built-up urban area around the municipality of Thessaloniki, Greece, which is the second largest municipality by population in the country behind Athens. The contiguous built-up area consists of 13 municipalities and forms the urban core of the...
, due to its expansion and the creation of new transportation networks, are those of Oraiokastro
Oraiokastro
Oraiokastro is a municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece and a suburb of Thessaloniki.-Municipality:The municipality Oraiokastro was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 3 former municipalities, that became municipal...
and Panorama. While Oraiokastro has traditionally been a middle class suburb, Panorama has been a more upscale suburb and is considered as the city's most exclusive.
The main eastern and southeastern suburbs include the municipalities of Thermaikos
Thermaikos
Thermaikos was a municipality of the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. It compirised of the suburbs of Peraia, Neoi Epivates and Agia Triada, of which had a population of 20,253...
, Thermi
Thermi
Thermi is a municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece.-Municipality:The municipality Thermi was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 3 former municipalities, that became municipal units:*Mikra*Thermi...
, Chortiatis
Chortiatis
Chortiatis is a suburb and a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 Kallikratis local government reform it is part of the municipality Pylaia-Chortiatis, of which it is a municipal unit...
, Mikra
Mikra, Thessaloniki
Mikra is a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Thermi, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 10,427 . The seat of the municipality was in Trilofo....
, Michaniona
Michaniona
Michaniona was a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, the town/suburb is part of the municipality of Thermaikos, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 9,425 . The seat of the municipality was in Nea Michaniona and included the...
, Vasilika
Vasilika
Vasilika is a town and a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Thermi, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 9,303 ....
and Epanomi
Epanomi
Epanomi is a town and was a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality of Thermaikos, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located 25 km away from the city center of Thessaloniki...
; while the main western suburbs include the municipalities of Echedoros
Echedoros
Echedoros was a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Delta, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 23,924 . The seat of the municipality was in Sindos. In antiquity Echedorus was a river rising in...
and Chalastra
Chalastra
Chalastra is a town and was a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Delta, of which it is a municipal unit. The town is located 20 km west from the city of Thessaloniki, on the north side of Greek...
.
Demographics
The municipalities to the west of Thessaloniki are increasingly becoming home to new immigrants and are predominantly working class areas. The newly emerging suburbs to the east are where the vast majority of the middle class residents are moving to. Many of these suburbs are seeing rapid growth and development and infrastructure is not keeping pace.Population
By far the largest municipality in the metropolitan area is the municipality of Thessaloniki (the city center).A census carried out by Eurostat
Eurostat
Eurostat is a Directorate-General of the European Commission located in Luxembourg. Its main responsibilities are to provide the European Union with statistical information at European level and to promote the integration of statistical methods across the Member States of the European Union,...
in 2004 has revealed an increased population for the metropolitan area or Larger Urban Zone (LUZ) of Thessaloniki of an estimated 995,766 residents (2004), while calculating its real area to be 1455.62 square kilometres (562 sq mi).
The table below lists the municipalities/suburbs of the Thessaloniki Metropolitan Area in bold, among those of the city's Urban Area
Thessaloniki Urban Area
The Thessaloniki Urban Area is the contiguous densely built-up urban area around the municipality of Thessaloniki, Greece, which is the second largest municipality by population in the country behind Athens. The contiguous built-up area consists of 13 municipalities and forms the urban core of the...
. Population and area data from the Greek 2001 Census.
Table source: National Statistical Service of Greece
| Municipality | Population | Area in km² (square miles) |
|---|---|---|
| Thessaloniki Thessaloniki Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace... |
363,987 | 17.817 (11.07) |
| Kalamaria Kalamaria Kalamariá is a municipality of the Thessaloniki Urban Area, located about 7 km southeast of downtown Thessaloniki. It is the second largest municipality of the Thessaloniki Urban Area as well as one of the largest in Greece, with a population increase of 8% since the 1991... |
87,255 | 6.401 (3.98) |
| Evosmos Evosmos Evosmos is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kordelio-Evosmos, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It has a land area of 9.927 km²... |
52,624 | 9.927 (6.17) |
| Sykies Sykies Sykies is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Neapoli-Sykies, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. The municipal unit population is 41,726... |
41,726 | 7.982 (4.96) |
| Stavroupoli Stavroupoli Stavroupoli is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pavlos Melas, of which it is the seat of it and is a municipal unit... |
41,653 | 3.175 (1.97) |
| Ampelokipoi Ampelokipoi, Thessaloniki Ampelokipoi is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality of the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality of Ampelokipoi-Menemeni, of which it is a municipal unit. The population is 40,959, as of 2001,... |
40,959 | 1.803 (1.12) |
| Polichni Polichni Polichni is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pavlos Melas, of which it is a municipal unit. The population is 36,146 , and it has a land area of... |
36,146 | 7.325 (4.55) |
| Neapoli Neapoli, Thessaloniki Neapoli is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Neapoli-Sykies, of which it is a municipal unit... |
30,279 | 1.168 (0.73) |
| Echedoros Echedoros Echedoros was a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Delta, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 23,924 . The seat of the municipality was in Sindos. In antiquity Echedorus was a river rising in... |
23,924 | 103.147/102.922 (64.09/63.95) |
| Pylaia Pylaia Pylaia is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pylaia-Chortiatis, of which it is a municipal unit... |
22,744 | 24.379 (15.15) |
| Eleftherio-Kordelio Eleftherio-Kordelio Eleftherio-Kordelio is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality of the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kordelio-Evosmos, of which it is a municipal unit. It gained its present form in 1982,... |
21,630 | 3.431 (2.13) |
| Thermaikos Thermaikos Thermaikos was a municipality of the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. It compirised of the suburbs of Peraia, Neoi Epivates and Agia Triada, of which had a population of 20,253... |
20,253 | 20.3 (12.61) |
| Thermi Thermi Thermi is a municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece.-Municipality:The municipality Thermi was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 3 former municipalities, that became municipal units:*Mikra*Thermi... |
16,546 | 100.943 (62.72) |
| Menemeni Menemeni Menemeni is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and a former municipality of the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Ampelokipoi-Menemeni, of which it is a municipal unit. It neighbors Evosmos, Ampelokipoi, Thessaloniki... |
14,910 | 7.989 (4.96) |
| Panorama Panorama, Thessaloniki Panorama is an affluent suburb and a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pylaia-Chortiatis, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. Panorama has a population of 20,000 and is located at the foot... |
14,552 | 21.321 (13.25) |
| Chortiatis Chortiatis Chortiatis is a suburb and a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 Kallikratis local government reform it is part of the municipality Pylaia-Chortiatis, of which it is a municipal unit... |
12,866 | 109.934 (68.31) |
| Oraiokastro Oraiokastro Oraiokastro is a municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece and a suburb of Thessaloniki.-Municipality:The municipality Oraiokastro was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 3 former municipalities, that became municipal... |
11,896 | 21.855 (13.58) |
| Triandria Triandria Triandria is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Thessaloniki, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located east of Thessaloniki's city centre at... |
11,289 | 1.475 (0.92) |
| Mikra Mikra, Thessaloniki Mikra is a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Thermi, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 10,427 . The seat of the municipality was in Trilofo.... |
10,427 | 80.827 (50.22) |
| Chalastra Chalastra Chalastra is a town and was a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Delta, of which it is a municipal unit. The town is located 20 km west from the city of Thessaloniki, on the north side of Greek... |
9,837 | 121.415/117.690 (75.44/73.13) |
| Michaniona Michaniona Michaniona was a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, the town/suburb is part of the municipality of Thermaikos, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 9,425 . The seat of the municipality was in Nea Michaniona and included the... |
9,425 | 21.569/20.994 (13.40/13.05) |
| Vasilika Vasilika Vasilika is a town and a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Thermi, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 9,303 .... |
9,303 | 200.336 (124.48) |
| Epanomi Epanomi Epanomi is a town and was a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality of Thermaikos, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located 25 km away from the city center of Thessaloniki... |
8,671 | 91.541/91.491 (56.88/56.85) |
| Agios Pavlos Agios Pavlos Agios Pavlos is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality of Neapoli-Sykies, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 7,978 .... |
7,978 | 1.953 (1.21) |
| Mygdonia Mygdonia, Thessaloniki Mygdonia is a suburb and a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Oraiokastro, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 7,239 . The municipal unit of Mygdonia includes three communities, Drymos , Liti ... |
7,239 | 20.044 (13.05) |
| Axios Axios, Thessaloniki Axios was a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, the town is part of the municipality Delta, of which it is a municipal unit. It is named after the river Axios. Population 6,780 . The seat of the municipality was in Kymina.... |
6,780 | 86.532/85.042 (53.77/52.84) |
| Nea Efkarpia | 6,598 | 13.263 (8.24) |
| Pefka Pefka Pefka is a suburb and a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Neapoli-Sykies, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 6,434 . It has a land area of 1.800 km² and a population density of 3,574... |
6,434 | 1.8 (1.12) |
| Kallithea Kallithea, Thessaloniki Kallithea is a suburb and a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Oraiokastro, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 6,096 .... |
6,096 | no data |
| Metropolitan Area | 954,027 | 1,089.608/1,083.543 (677.05/673.28) |
Growth issues
A serious problem that particularly suburbs of the Thessaloniki Metropolitan Area have faced, was the lack of extending and introducing new growth boundaries on time (particularly in the southeast) by the national government, to manage the rapid suburban growth and urban sprawl that started in the 1990s. This allowed many new homes to be built on large blocks of land with no future urban provisions taken into consideration and in areas that were otherwise used for agriculture.Floor Area Ratio
Floor Area Ratio
The floor area ratio or floor space index is the ratio of the total floor area of buildings on a certain location to the size of the land of that location, or the limit imposed on such a ratio....
s (FAR) are recommended by the national government to manage growth and have been used to deter landowners from building homes outside the growth boundaries (city/town zones) of each suburb. It is common practice to violate the FARs by building structures that are larger than recommended, with many suburban homes being in direct violation of Greek planning laws. Only recently have actions been taken on by the government to extend the growth boundaries, create new much needed urban layouts
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
and address current issues by introducing new planning laws. However actual implementation of such actions for each municipality is usually expected to be complete in 5 years time, from the time that the government announced it.