Positive opinion for new 212-bed 5-star hotel at Aptera, Chania

Crete's Regional Committee on Environment and Spatial Planning unanimously approved the Environmental Impact Study for a new 5-star hotel at Aptera, in the Daratsos municipal community, Nea Kydonia, Chania. The project developer is DOMES KRITIS 2 MONOPROSOPI A.E.

The complex will have 212 beds in 107 rooms (2 single, 105 double), spread across 14 building volumes on a 30,417.40 sqm plot. Of the double rooms, 69 will have private pools with sea views, 24 will have private pools in southern courtyards, and 7 will have rooftop hot tubs. Five rooms will meet accessibility standards. The plan also includes a reception building, two restaurants, a main pool and four leisure areas along the seafront.

A building permit had previously been issued for a 99-bed unit on the same plot, before the current study was submitted for the full 212-bed project. The Environment Department noted construction work had already started and requested a chapter on the project's compliance so far, along with a special review of buildability linked to a rural road recognized as predating 1923.

Water supply is planned at 150.96 cubic meters per day from the Parigoria network, contingent on building a storage tank. Filling of the swimming pools, totaling 2,367.23 cubic meters, must be done gradually over more than 30 days. Conditions were also set regarding parking, as the 21 spaces listed were deemed insufficient.

The sandy beach north of the property is a nesting area for the Caretta caretta sea turtle, prompting conditions to limit light and noise pollution during both construction and operation.