Bulgaria Tightens Coastal Construction Regime

Bulgaria Tightens Coastal Construction Regime

Sofia News Agency, 20.05.2006

Bulgarian lawmakers have made a step closer to almost completely banning the ravaging construction along the Black Sea coast. With a law on the Black Sea coast passed at first reading this week, the Parliament envisions to ban completely any construction within the Zone A, on the very beach. Yet, it will skip projects legally built up and already approved for construction. Zone A spans up to 100 meters inland and buildings there will not be allowed to rise higher than two storeys or 7.5 m, the new law says. Zone B allows for two-meter higher buildings and strict provisions to plant green areas. Authorities will issue construction permits only for areas with appropriate infrastructure, the legislators said. If the law passes at second reading, constructors must observe also a permanent ban on building works from May 1 to October 15. Heavy construction works at Bulgaria's seaside are among the most serious problems facing the country's tourism sector. Local managers and staff fear that many foreign tourists are becoming more and more reluctant to spend their holidays amid non-stop scaffolding, noise, and dust. see source