Greece is moving ahead with the major redevelopment of two former military camps in Pella, northern Greece under a wider urban plan that brings together housing, public services, parks, cultural facilities, and tourism-related activity.
The Special Urban Plan covers the former Filippakou and Kapsali military camps in the Municipal Unit of Giannitsa, within the Municipality of Pella. Greece’s Ministry of Environment and Energy has granted preliminary approval for the plan.
One of the key provisions concerns the former Filippakou camp, where the plan allows tourist accommodation of up to 150 beds, along with other tourism-related businesses.
The Municipality of Pella and the National Defense Fund are advancing the project through a unified urban planning framework. According to the decision, the former Kapsali camp would become a metropolitan-style urban hub, combining a city park with central urban functions.
Meanwhile, the former Filippakou camp will serve as a second development zone focused on housing, public-benefit services, and selected tourism uses. Overall, the plan aims to bring two large former military sites back into the urban fabric of Giannitsa. As a result, the city would gain new spaces for residents, public services, business activity, culture, and recreation.
The former Filippakou camp covers a total area of 232,292.67 square meters (about 57.4 acres). The approved planning designates the site for general residential use and allows a broad mix of activities. These include housing, social welfare services, education, small sports facilities, places of worship, cultural venues, local administration functions, primary healthcare services, retail, offices, restaurants, and cafes.
In addition, the plan includes a tourism component. The former Filippakou camp may host tourist accommodations of up to 150 beds, as well as other tourism establishments. Therefore, the redevelopment gives the area a broader economic role by linking residential and public-benefit uses with visitor-related activity.
The former Kapsali camp covers 80,843.85 square meters (about 20 acres). Of that area, 44,504.58 square meters (about 11 acres), form part of an archaeological site. For the particular section, the plan provides for public parks and open spaces, along with central city functions in the two remaining sections facing Apodimou Ellinismou Street and 20is Oktovriou Street.
Those uses include social welfare, education, cultural facilities, administration, public gathering spaces, conference centers, retail, offices, research centers, business incubators, restaurants, and cafés.
Greece’s redevelopment plan also takes into account the special legal status of the archaeological protection zone around the Ahmed Bey Mosque and the Baths of Sheikh Ilahi.
In particular, Zone A of the archaeological site falls under a special legal framework. Future development in the area must therefore comply with conservation regulations for the historic monuments.
