Lisbon urban development legal dispute

The civic movement Artilharia Um has initiated legal action against the Portuguese state, filing a formal complaint with the European Commission. The group alleges that a major urban development project at Rua de Artilharia 1 in Lisbon’s Amoreiras area, promoted by Novo Banco, violated European directives regarding environmental impact assessments (EIA).

Residents contend that the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-LVT) improperly exempted the five-hectare site from an EIA by classifying the project as an amendment to existing development rather than a new project. The proposed development includes 683 homes, 47,200 square metres of office space, and 6,830 square metres of retail space. In addition to the European Commission complaint, the movement has contacted the Public Prosecutor’s Office to challenge the legality of the plans, citing concerns over planning permissions, compliance with the Municipal Master Plan, and a lack of affordable housing requirements.