Filenews 29 January 2025 -by Dora Christodoulou
The Pafos EDA is appealing to the courts in order to stop work on a unit of tourist apartments under construction in Latchi, until it has the position of the Department of Environment for this development. Speaking to "F", the president of the Organization, Charalambos Pittokopitis, stressed that the position of the EDA is that if the Department of Environment takes a positive position, then it will issue the relevant permit. The tourist unit under construction in Latchi is a desirable development in the area, he clarified, since it offers jobs and tourist development of the Polis Chrysochous district, but it must follow the laws, as he said.
The owner had secured planning permission for the construction of two-storey organized tourist apartments, he stressed, but a three-storey building was being built that concerns iron construction and not permanent constructions, so the owner was sent an enforcement notice by the Director of Town Planning. Last June, the president of the Pafos EDA said, there was a modification of the local plan in this area and three-storey hotels were now allowed, resulting in the owner submitting a new application for a change of use from a two-storey to a three-storey hotel. However, we were informed as the Pafos EDA that in the meantime it was continuing the work, despite the conditions that were not met, one of which was to have the approval of the Aesthetic Control Committee.
Mr. Pittokopitis said that this committee met and made comments on the plans and recommended that a part of the 3rd floor be removed. The applicant came back with new plans modified, such as the recommendation of the Audit Committee, which met again and accepted the new plans that provided for the demolition of part of the third floor.
Last December, Mr. Pittokopitis said, the issue was addressed by the EDA Licensing Committee, which decided, with the sole exception of Pafos Mayor Phedon Phedonos, that this development in the area is desirable and will be viewed positively by the EDA, provided that the views of the Department of Environment that are expected will be positive. In the meantime, however, according to the President of the Pafos EDA, based on information received, the owner continued work on it and decided to take legal action against him, so that he could terminate the works until they had the views from the Department of Environment.
