The subject of the research paper is the analysis of the relation between the industry and the city, the consequences and effects at a zoning, environmental, financial and social level of the industrial growth in the urban centres.

The contradiction of the economic boom with the zoning, environmental, residential and social problems that the industrial revolution causes, constitutes a research subject of the industrial city throughout the Western European region in the l8th century, and throughout the hellenic space, later, in the 19th century. It was firstly in England and later in the remainder European countries that the urban system changes quantitatively and qualitatively as well. The cities grow at most rapid paces, because of the population increase and of the shift of the active population from the countryside towards them. The first industrial settlements and, later, the first forms of garden cities and suburbs are created for the guarantee of housing the workforce of the factories.

In Greece, the urban planning matures under pressures concerning the housing of refugees and resettlers at the end of the 19th century. The city industrialisation process leads to a bigger urbanisation mainly in the Athenian space, deteriorating the housing conditions of the increasing workforce. Labour residences are configured, and also residences of suburbanites and big bourgeoisies, with intense elements of dense population and congestion and non-existent infrastructure works. Later, provincial cities acquire industrial activity as well, resulting in their demographic increase.

Kozani, one of them, develops industrially and economically through the installation of the steam electric stations of the PPC, whose operation is of national importance. A great part of the workforce searches a residence in Kozani and in Ptolemaida while a part of it is absorbed in the nearby settlements and in settlements created by the PPC itself.

The extensions implemented by the town planning in 1985 concerning the city of Kozani are confronted with the great demand for apartments accessible to the new residents, without, however, the infrastructure works being completed (water supply projects, sewerage, district heating, road constructions, asphalt coating, configurations of communal spaces and greenery spaces, etc.) and the required buildings and facilities commonly used by the public (churches, schools, recreation, etc.), which are essential for the sustainability of regions.

In terms of this residential growth, the Area of Active Urban planning (ZEP) is created by the Municipality of Kozani. This model settlement constitutes a model of a modern satellite city, a developmental, administrative, commercial and tourist centre. This huge operation of the Kozani Municipality is conducted by self-financing, based on high specifications as for the infrastructures (underground networks, district heating), provisions (underground parking, green, recreational spaces) and residences.

It is worth pointing out the phenomenon of relocating settlements, as a unique one in the hellenic region. The relocations serve the operation of lignite mines, taking into consideration the improvement of the living conditions of its residents, providing an environmental, residential upgrade and a financial guarantee. These constitute a separate chapter in the way they influence the landscape of the wider region in a zoning, urban planning and environmental way. The old settlements become depopulated, abalienated by the PPC for its developmental needs and also for its politico-economic, social and anthropocentric reasons.

The absolute imposition of the PPC facilities in the socio-economic structure and in the environmental and residential landscape of the region requires attention for the development and the future of the land. It is imperative that the urban and suburban space of Kozani be revised, that a strategic plan regarding urban planning, land-planning and environmental reconstruction be acquired, so that its sustainable development will be ensured.