Construction of five-star hotel on Greek island's 'moon beach' halted

Environmental campaigners have welcomed a decision to halt construction of a five-star hotel on a Greek beach known for its outstanding natural beauty.

- Helena Smith

Local authorities on the Cycladic island of Milos said a building licence for the resort on the world-renowned "moon beach" had been revoked by the planning department after falling short of inspection standards.

"It was found that not all required approvals and supporting documentation had been submitted," the island's municipal council said on Wednesday. "No construction will proceed without full compliance with laws and environmental requirements."

Milos's mayor, Manolis Mikelis, had faced a public outcry over the planned development after excavators were spotted earlier this year.

Famous for its lunar-like volcanic landscape, hewn over millions of years, Milos's "moon beach" is among the most photographed shorelines in Greece, with travel experts describing it as among the most beautiful on the planet.

Plans envisioned the hotel complex cascading across a vast area of the pumice-white rocks, with swimming pools and cave villas constructed within view of the Aegean seas below. But for many the Milos project had become synonymous with the threat posed by runaway construction on Greek islands.