ε. . Εστ. Έδ. ΕΕ, Ι, τε. 2-3 2008 Tech. Chron. Sci. J. TCG, I, No 1-2 57 Summary This paper presents various forms of illegal urban development in Greece, as well as efforts by the Greek state to face the situation. The term “Illegal Constructions” (ICs) stands for illegalities in constructions (e.g. constructions beyond the permissible limits) or buildings not in compliance with current planning and regula- tions. Illegal Constructions are also considered changes in use of buildings or illegal conversion of public spaces (such as parks, coastal areas, pavements) into more proftable uses, regardless of the common good. Therefore, these ICs occur both on private and public land as well as on common use areas, either by individual developers and construction companies or by the state authorities themselves. In this procedure, the state often plays a negative role by tolerating and accepting illegalities or even acting as perpetra- tor of illegalities itself. An analysis of the numerous reasons for the emergence of ICs is also carried out, along with the presentation of planning and building regulations applied by the state in an effort to avoid these illegalities in Greece. The complex and often confusing legislative framework and the inadequate way, planning and building regulations are imposed, allow various degrees of illegalities in the majority of constructions in Greece. The paper includes preventive proposals and suggests corrective measures for the ICs cases. To illustrate the ICs situation in practise, a case study is also presented, referring to a rapidly urbanised municipality in the East Attica region. The ICs reported in this area for the time-period 2000-2006, are classifed by subject category and the fnes levied on illegal constructions are evaluated. This represents a typical example of the incompetence of the administration to verify the correspondence of buildings to their permits issued as well as to effectively collect imposed fnes. 1. INTRODUCTION Building informally is a challenge to citizens, since they avoid complex bureaucratic procedures, legal restrictions, expenses and taxes. Furthermore, they ensure the maximum possible exploitation of their real property based on a network of clientelistic relationships with the state, defning the terms of exploitation at the expense of the environment and the sustainable development (The Greek Ombudsman, 1998). This is the practice so far in many countries, especially when the land administration and planning policies fail to tackle with this problem. These informalities of all kind are expanding rapidly when the public authorities insuffciently apply the housing control mechanisms or when these authorities are vulnerable to corruption. In fact, the type and extend of informalities vary from country to country and even from place to place within the same country, according to local conditions and needs, with regard to the existing planning and land management framework. In more developed countries, considerable experience has been possessed in applying spatial planning regulations and building permits. The existing interrelationship of land use regulations, records and registration systems offer all necessary tools to prevent informal development. (UN, 2007). Many countries, in order to improve control on territorial development, decentralize land management authority and responsibility to local government, thus improving effectiveness of land policy implementation and more systematic building inspection. Housing policy is strongly supported by existing cadastral registration systems, land use plans and appraisal systems. The role of these land policy tools is important for the elimination of informalities; the authorities provided with the appropriate documentation may easily monitor land distribution and illegal occupation of state land. They may also detect illegalities in real estate transactions and verify constructions not in compliance with planning and building regulations. On the other hand, in less developed systems, informal settlements are left out of the urban development planning process, and no land information is offcially collected about them. The process of regularisation, relying on the availability of land information, may not work, leading to low security of land tenure and poor living conditions lacking basic urban infrastructure and services. (Lamba, 2005) Informal Constructions within a Spatial Development Framework EFI DIMOPOULOU PANAGIOTIS ZENTELIS Professor, National Technical University of Athens,