Construction project for the new Panathinaikos Football Stadium in central Athens ready to kick off – Building permit has been issued

The building permit for Panathinaikos’ new stadium in Votanikos has been issued.

Issuing the building permit is a significant step in the progress of the Double Regeneration project.

It is noted that the task force established to coordinate the project, under the guidance of the Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, and with the participation of the Deputy Mayor of Infrastructure, the General Secretary of the Municipality, and all involved stakeholders, undertook a series of actions that led to today’s decision.

Specifically:

• All unauthorized constructions within the plots owned by the Municipality of Athens were demolished.
• The necessary Spatial Changes required for the issuance of the permit were implemented.
• The demolition permit for the Leoforos stadium was issued, a prerequisite for the issuance of the permit for the new stadium. It is clarified that this permit, based on current legislation and the provisions of the Presidential Decree governing the Double Regeneration lasts 20 years and will remain inactive until the construction of the new stadium in Votanikos and the sports facilities of Amateur Panathinaikos is completed.
• Elevation studies for the roads were carried out and approved by the competent Ministry.
• Finally, the necessary approvals were obtained from the Archaeology Department, the Central Council of Architecture, and the General Secretariat of Sports, and we ensured the renewal of the Environmental Terms Approval for the stadium.

How is the major Double Regeneration project progressing

Regarding the Double Regeneration project, the following have been implemented:

• Funding of 115 million euros for the construction of the stadium was secured, with its approval by the Ministry of Environment and Energy on June 20, 2024.
• The Municipal Council approved the request to the Government for the acceleration of expropriations by activating the procedures of Article 7A of the Expropriation Code through a Cabinet Act.
• An additional 6.8 million euros in funding was secured, and soil remediation of the stadium’s excavation site is underway so that the first concrete can be poured into the stadium’s foundations in a few weeks.
• The contracts for the two projects in the broader area of Elaionas, Infrastructure, and Green Spaces are progressing smoothly, with work set to begin soon.

The Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, emphasized: “This is a historic day for Panathinaikos and Athens. The issuance of the building permit for the construction of the new state-of-the-art stadium seals a well-coordinated effort that has been moving at an unprecedented pace over the last eight months. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all the services and the relevant authorities that contributed greatly to achieving immediate results in such a short time. This was a commitment we made and are steadfastly implementing for the fans of Panathinaikos, as well as the residents of the wider area who are witnessing the upgrade of Votanikos.”

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