Minoan Group is a step closer to completing its mega resort in Crete after an appeal against its fast-track status was dropped.
The appeal was withdrawn after a request to postpone the hearing of the case was rejected by the Greek Supreme Administrative Court.
Christopher Egleton, chairman of Minoan, said: “We are delighted by today’s outcome and believe that this illustrates the new reality that exists in Greece. This result reaffirms the project’s fast track status.
“Work on the various studies necessary for the environmental approval of the project has continued and these will now be submitted as soon as possible.”
He added: “The Greek government has expressed its intention to move forward quickly with strategic investments it considers vital for the country and we look forward to updating the market with further positive news from Greece in the coming weeks and months.”
The Crete project is set to include a number of small to medium sized hotels on a 6,000-acre site, which has 28km of coastline on the Cavo Sidero peninsula.
Minoan Group said the project aims to preserve the landscape and “leave more than 90% in its natural state and create conditions for the regenerations of vegetation”, and claims that it “will be one of the most environmentally-friendly developments in Europe”.
Minoan, which joined the Hays Independence Group recently, has made several agency acquisitions in Scotland including Stewart Travel Centre, King World Travel and Semple Travel.
As Travel Weekly reported yesterday, it now plans to rebrand all stores under the Stewart Travel banner.