Filenews 22 June 2021 - byEvagoras Prokopiou
The nine largest development projects that received a positive opinion in 2021 following an Environmental Impact Study, Insider presents. Opinions are usually respected by the Council of Ministers, but there are exceptions when certain other conditions must be met. A typical example is the "reddening" of the report on the Astromeritis – Evrychos motorway in environmental terms. In this case the Ministerial did not accept the opinion and turned on the green light for the implementation of the project.
NEW DEVELOPMENT "MAMOUTH" IN LIMASSOL
The proposed development concerns the construction and operation of two residential buildings and four commercial buildings of Halemo Ltd in the Limassol Tower. The residential buildings have 44 apartments, a tennis court, fountains and an outdoor swimming pool. Commercial buildings offer a total of 16 store spaces with storage space for each, 6 apartments and 6 office spaces. The development will have a total of 251 parking spaces, 8 of which are for the disabled. In detail the uses of the project are as follows:
-Block A: 6 floors, 24 apartments, warehouses, engine room, parking lots, underground space single with Block B.
-Block B: 5 floors, 20 apartments, warehouses, engine room, parking lots, underground space single with Block A.
- Block C: 4 floors, 6 apartments, 4 shops, warehouses, parking lots, engine room and basement single with Blocks D,E,F.
- Block D: 3 floors, 2 office spaces on each floor, 4 shops, warehouses, parking lots, engine room and basement single with Blocks C, E, F.
- Block E: 2 floors, 2 office spaces on each floor, 4 shops, warehouses, parking lots, engine room and basement single with Blocks C, D, F.
-Block F: Ground floor and middle floor, 4 shops, engine room and basement single with Blocks C, piece along road B1 where there is not expected to be an intrusion into soil layers where there is underground water
HOTEL 3 STARS IN AYIA NAPA
The project concerns a 3-star hotel unit with a capacity of 34 rooms (68 beds) and falls under the Tourist Zone T1c and EV of the Ayia Napa area.
In particular, it will include:
-20 standard rooms 4 rooms for people with disabilities and 10 Suites
- Waiting/lobby & Lounge
-Outdoor rooftop pool with pool bar
-Gymnastics and Massage Room
- Games Room
-Breakfast Room
-Theme Restaurant
- 3 Shops Shared sanitary areas and all the required auxiliary areas of a 3-star hotel unit.
It will occupy an area of 1030 m2 (Coverage) and the total construction of the project will amount to 1865 m2. The hotel will be built with 5 floors.
MIXED LARGE DEVELOPMENT IN THE "DASOUDI" OF GERMASOGEIA
This mixed development, "Dasoudi Residence" of the Property Gallery in the Municipality of Germasogeia received approval from the Department of the Environment. The project that passed successfully the MEEP of the Department, will extend to a plot with an area of 2975 sqm. The building will consist of: 16 floors (13 above ground, 1 basement, middle floor, mechanical floor and ceiling facilities) which will consist of 29 apartments and 2 shops. The total height of the building will be about 65 meters from the ground level.
In detail the uses of the project are as follows:
Basement: 30 car parks, storage areas, mechanical areas, gym and SPA with swimming pool.
Ground floor (1st Level): reception area, 26 parking spaces, mechanical facilities, outdoor recreation area (with children's play area and artificial water elements), commercial areas – 2 shops, landscaped green space
Mid-floor (2nd Level): Auxiliary and sanitary areas
Mechanical floor: Mechanical installations and swimming pool
1st - 12th floor: Residential apartments
13th level: Ceiling garden and public areas.
POLYOROFO IN LARNAKA
Approval for a new high-rise building in Larnaca was given by the environmental authority. The proposed project is located on Grigori Axentiou Avenue, at its junction with Adamantiou Korai Street, Chrysopolitissa parish, in the city centre of Larnaca with a total area of 936 sq.m. The project under consideration concerns the construction and operation of a high-rise building, "Park Avenue", Residential Use which consists of 11 above ground levels (incl. ground floor) with the largest height of the building amounting to 45,35m , with a semi-basement level which will be mainly configured as a parking lot. The ground floor space will also be used as a parking space, while the second floor up to the tenth will consist of residential developments. The project is located in a position where it refrains from specific physical and anthropogenic elements as follows:
- 1,300m from Larnaca Marina and from the nearest point of the coastline
-50m from the Municipal Library and Larnaca Municipal Theatre
-250m west of the American Academy of Larnaca
- 500m from The Cyprus Lyceum of Larnaca
-300m west of the Old Hospital of Larnaca
HOTEL IN KATO PYRGOS
Construction of a small hotel unit within the administrative boundaries of Kato Pyrgos. The small hotel development will consist of a two-storey building with a basement and its area will not exceed 250 m2. The hotel unit will consist of 9 rooms with a total capacity of 18 beds. In the proposed plot there is a residence (160 sqm.) which will be demolished. Excavations of no more than 500 meters will be carried out. The piece, abuts the main road Payammos-Kato Pyrgos.
Specifically it is located northwest of the community of Kato Pyrgos. The proposed piece has an elevation difference of 20 meters from sea level and abuts the protection zone of the beach and the coastline.
TYROCOMY IN ANALIONTA
The Environmental Authority has given approval for the construction of a cheese factory in the community of Analionda. The aim of the project is the construction of a cheese factory and an agricultural warehouse, which will occupy about 446 sqm. of the requested piece. The area is semi-mountainous and the urban area to which the piece belongs is AZ (No Zone) and the size of the piece is 24750 sqm. The distance of development from the boundaries of the residential zone of the community is 1.5 km. Within a radius of about 1 km there are livestock units, while in the eastern part abuts slowly. Within the piece there is a warehouse that is already existing, while access to the premises will be ensured by a public road. In an adjacent area of the warehouse there is an olive grove which includes 180-200 olives, while there is no remarkable flora and fauna in the rest of the piece.
CYCLOPS EDUCATION CENTRE IN LARNAKA
A green light was given by the environmental authority for the educational centre called Cyclops (Cyprus Center for Land, Open Seas and Port Security) in Larnaca province which will be funded by the US government. For the construction of the training centre an area of 1,295 sqm. of the total area of the piece will be used and the rest of the space will be used mainly for green space and other auxiliary facilities. The training centre includes offices, classrooms, chemistry/biology workshop for educational purposes, training rooms, auxiliary areas, cafeteria, reception areas, guard room, outdoor parking spaces, vehicle inspection area, etc.
The training centre will have a capacity of 100 people and its use will be periodic. Photovoltaic panels will be installed on the roof of the building. The chemistry/biology laboratory will only be used for experimental purposes, for the training and training of trainees. The U.S. Government will cover the costs of buildings and facilities estimated at 5 million, train Cypriots who will take over the operation of the Centre as well as further train both Cypriots and officials of neighbouring countries. The CYCLOPS Training Centre will focus on the provision of educational services to government agencies and neighbouring countries in vital areas of regional security such as: -Border controls - Border security - Port security - Customs controls on land and sea - Management of hazardous materials CBI-E (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) in a special laboratory -Cybersecurity.
15 NEW WAVE BREAKERS IN GEROSKIPOU
The continuous and intense effect of the wave is accepted by the southwest coasts of the neighbouring municipalities of Paphos and Geroskipou which are purely touristic and are exposed to the high seas. For the protection of the beach and the possibility of its use by bathers, various marine projects are constructed from time to time. In the study area there is no organized use of the coast as the sea currents and the high ripple status of the area make the situation dangerous for bathers and with unfortunate events in the past. In order to develop the coastal zone by protecting the coast from erosion and improving the quality of the beach in order to be compatible with tourist and recreational uses and to provide in particular the necessary safe conditions of use of the coast by bathers, a strategic environmental impact study (SMP) was prepared which examined alternatives. The main issues that concerned the evaluation of the SMP, in addition to coastal hydraulic issues, were the presence of Poseidon meadows and antiquities in the area. The Environmental Authority approved with some adjustments the solution proposed. This plan summarises the redeployment of most existing wave breakers by creating a uniform rational protection and improvement of the coast by minimising the negative impact on the environment. Following the adjustments proposed by the Environmental Authority, the project includes 15 new detached (parallel to the coast) wave breakers with a coronation level of +1.5m. above the Middle Sea Level and 4 provols (sitting on the coast) 15m long. - 40m. The proposed projects are mainly constructed with recyclable materials (natural boulders), with maximum utilization of the appropriate materials from existing projects. In the case of the use of natural boulders, a total of about 110,000 m2 of HMA 3000/6000 boulders and about 23,000 m2 of HMA 300/1000-sized boulders will be needed.
HOTEL CONSTRUCTION OF 5 STARS IN PAFOS
Although essentially this project concerns the demolition of an existing hotel unit, it is still a major project that wanted the approval of the Environmental Authority. This gave the green light to the environmental authority for the demolition of the existing three-storey hotel 'Asimina Suites Hotel' and the construction of three new buildings (Asimina A, B & C), nine floors and a height of 34 m each, with apartments, of the company "Constantinou Bros", in the Municipality of Paphos. Demolition will begin at the top of the building and continue downwards so as not to affect the stability of the building and there will be instability and/or uncontrolled collapse.
It is estimated that the demolition of the existing premises will result in approximately 15,000 m3 of demolition waste. Demolition work is expected to take about three months.
RED FOR THE ASTROMERITIS - EURYCHOS MOTORWAY
The Environmental Authority, with an opinion of 5/5/2021, as expected, turned red on the construction of the Astromeritis– Evrychos motorway, taking into account the conclusion of the report of the Special Ecological Assessment, according to which the implementation of the project will have significant negative effects on the environment which cannot be eliminated or reduced by taking any measures. The project passes through the area "Atsas-Agios Theodoros" of the Natura 2000 Network (Spa Special Protection Zone) for about 3,500 m.
According to the Ecological Assessment, the project will have negative, irreversible effects both during the construction phase and during the operation of the project, on the protection objects of the "Atsas – Agios Theodoros" SPA area of the Natura 2000 Network, on the types of designation and their habitats, which they use as vital areas of food collection, nesting, reproduction and rest, on conservation objectives and on the integrity and coherence of the network area. However, the project falls within the State's strategy to improve its main road network and aims to solve the road safety and functionality problems observed on the existing road and to facilitate the accessibility of the Solea and Troodos areas, in order to contribute to economic development, social cohesion and the improvement of the quality of life of the inhabitants of the wider region. To this end, the Council of Ministers has already decided to approve the project for overriding reasons of significant public interest and for reasons of social and economic nature and public security. Following the latest developments, the Government is now expected to inform the Commission of its decision, to substantiate the reasons it is promoting the construction of the project in the absence of alternatives and to propose compensatory measures to affect the Special Protection Zone "Atsa-Agios Theodoros Region", in order to ensure the protection of overall Natura 2000 cohesion. It should be noted that the Commission's approval is not required for the project implementation procedures to proceed as long as priority items are not affected.
