Greek Council of State rejects appeal against Project Voria paving way for work to start in Autumn
Work is expected to start at the new entertainment and hospitality hub, Project Voria in Maroussi in northern Athens, in the Autumn following approvals this week from the Council of State, Greece’s highest administrative court.
The construction license is expected to be issued within the next few weeks so construction can begin on North Star Entertainment’s €300m project, which will see the Regency Casino Mont Parnes in Parnitha, Athens, relocate its licence.
The Council of State rejected an appeal against the development brought by the Municipality of Halandri, which borders the site, as well as members of the Maroussi Municipal Council.
The project is still facing an appeal from the Loutraki Casino, requesting the annulment of the Presidential Decree. It has raised jurisdictional issues with the regulatory authority and argues that approval of the relocation constitutes a form of state aid. The decision on this appeal is expected within the coming weeks, but sources believe it will also be kicked out.
The project to relocate the mountain-top casino, which was derailed in 2021, would see the licence move to the Dilaveri estate in Marousi. North Star Entertainment is the owner of the Parnitha casino with Regency Entertainment the main shareholder of 51 per cent of North Star Entertainment, with the rest 49 per cent, controlled by the Greek State. Regency Entertainment owns the Parnitha and Thessaloniki casinos.
The new casino will take shape on land near the Golden Hall mall, on the junction of Kiffissias and Spyros Louis avenues. Preliminary work in preparation for the groundbreaking is already taking place at the site.
Project Voria will see the construction of a five-star hotel, event and conference venues, a variety of dining and entertainment options, as well as the casino. The project devotes 25,000 square meters out of the total floor space of 55,000 square meters for public areas and green spaces.
North Star wants to ‘create a leading entertainment and hospitality destination, which will offer unique experiences to guests.’
Its location on the west side of Kifissias avenue is on a major north-south thoroughfare connecting central Athens and its northern more upscale districts. It is close to the Athens Olympic complex (OAKA) and the Greek capital’s biggest department store malls.
