Filenews 18 June 2022 - by Angelos Nikolaou
The Environmental Authority has given a green light to the Limassol Centre Area Plan, which essentially transforms the entire coastal front of the city, which until today has remained unexploited. The Limassol Municipality is awaiting its publication in order to implement important development projects that keep a wait-and-see attitude. The area covers the city centre, where a large percentage of the services/facilities of various categories (office, commercial, educational and others) are concentrated, as well as the area included between Roosevelt Avenue, in the north, the marina and the old port, in the east and the new port, in the west, i.e. the area where the largest wine industries of Cyprus were formerly located.
The plans include the dismantling of industrial facilities and the change of land use from industrial to residential, tourist and office, as well as the expansion of the coastal front by determining its future use, while creating new urban zones. Essentially, the plan under consideration amends the current Limassol Centre Area Plan of 2011, of a total area of 2.5 km2, which occupies a large part of the central area of the city, between Makarios III Avenue and the sea. It covers the section between Makarios III Avenue and Gladstonos/Navarinos streets, and the section between the above roads and the sea.
The revision of the Plan was deemed necessary, since important projects were implemented and planned in the area, with expected impact on the dynamics of the built environment and investment interest, as well as problems accumulated in the (formerly) mixed industrial area between the old and the new port, which is an integral spatial and functional part of the city centre.
In the area plan under amendment, special areas of development are defined. These are: (1) The coastal front, (2) the area between the old and the new port, (3) the area of the Agios Nikolaos traffic junction, (4) the area of special uses, (5) the area of the Limassol marina and (6) Gladstonos and Griva Digeni streets within the Central Commercial Area (KEP) and parts of Archbishop Makarios III streets, 28th October, Archbishop Leontios, Thessaloniki and Gladstonos. A multidimensional framework of policies and incentives is being introduced for these regions.
In addition, new sectoral policies are introduced concerning sustainable urban mobility, climate change, integrated coastal zone management, entrepreneurship, sports, education - CUT, health and social care and oil stations.
Shopping centre empowerment
One of the main provisions of the Limassol Centre Area Plan concerns the modification of the boundaries of the existing Special Character Area (WP) and the inclusion of the Aesthetic and Qualitative Upgrading Area (PAIAN). The amendment of the boundaries of the PEC and the definition of PAIAN mainly concern the subregions of the coastal front (Zones Pa2a and Pa4a) on 28th October Avenue and Anexartisias Street. The implementation of this proposal is expected to contribute to the aesthetic upgrade of the space by replacing the existing old buildings and to the creation of visual escapes / openings to the sea, to avoid continuous construction along the beach and increase the free space at ground floor level. In addition, the proposed amendment of the PEC to PAIAN includes the largest part of the commercial road of Anexartisias Street, which is expected to contribute to the strengthening of the commercial / economic character of the central commercial area of Limassol and the aesthetic upgrade of this road.
Up to 30-storey buildings between new and old port
In the last five years, with the granting of urban incentives for the recovery of the Cypriot economy, there has been a strong interest in the construction of multi-storey residential buildings mainly in the area of Enaerios - Public Garden, as well as in the area between the old and new ports. Specifically, based on data from the Department of Town Planning and Housing, permits have been granted for 6 developments with multi-storey buildings (a total of 15 buildings) whose number of floors ranges from 5-43 (height: 20-150 m approximately).
Interest in the construction of other multi-storey buildings in the study area is generally increased. An important differentiation of the Limassol Centre Area Plan is the definition of Maximum Growth Factors (building coefficient, number of floors, allowed height) for the entire study area. Also, based on the new urban approach and the setting of maximum building coefficients, it is ensured that the maximum growth rates will not be exceeded, regardless of the urban incentives that will be used. The determination of these urban development factors was considered as the only incentive to encourage the owners to proceed with the demolition and construction of new buildings with a maximum coverage rate of 50% compared to 70% currently in force.
Specifically, the maximum number of floors breaks down as follows:
► In the area of ag. Nikolaou (on Makarios III Avenue) is increased to 13 floors (allowed height 60m.),
► In the Coastal Zone Pa2a it is increased from 6 to 12 (allowed height 50m.),
► In the Coastal Zone Pa4a it is increased from 4 to 12 floors (allowed height 50m.),
► In the Special Area between the Old and New Port it is increased to 30 floors (allowed height of 120m.),
► In the area between the Old and New Port (Ba 6-BE6) it is increased to 6 floors (allowed height of 30m.) for the promotion of research and innovation facilities
The creation of a bus station in the centre is a decision that resulted from the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan of Limassol.
