Filenews 13 February 2025 - by Dora Christodoulou
The Environmental Authority finally gave the green light for the conversion of tourist apartments into a 480-bed hotel in Prodromi parish, within the administrative boundaries of the Municipality of Polis Chrysochous.
The estimated cost of the project is €55 million and its estimated execution period is estimated at 18 months after obtaining the required permits and starting works. The project concerns additions, conversions and change of use to a 4-star hotel, with 480 beds and the capacity to accommodate 720 people.
The existing development concerned organized tourist apartments of A' Class, with a total number of bedrooms 142 and consisted of 18 buildings, a multiplex and a restaurant. The proposed development still has 18 buildings, of which 11 consist of 240 2-bed rooms.
The Environmental Authority, in its opinion, took into account a provision of the approved Local Plan of Chrysochous Bay 2024, based on which it is possible to allow the construction of a three-storey building, exclusively for hotels. It also deems it necessary to incorporate terms and conditions that cover the entire project and replace the terms of the Reasoned Finding issued in the context of the assessment of the Town Planning Permit, as management measures to mitigate the impact on the environment during the construction and operation of this development.
In addition, the Environmental Authority lists the main reasons why an Environmental Impact Assessment Study is not required, among which it is stated that the proposed development plot was previously a pre-existed tourist development of the same type as the proposed development and in addition in the wider development area there are developments of the same function, while in addition the development plot under study does not fall within a protected area Natura 2000.
With the green from the competent authority, the dysfunction caused for some time around the legality of the project is put to an end, since as it is known about a year ago through an Enforcement Notice from the Pafos District Town Planning Office, construction works were put on pause, due to arbitrary constructions, extensions, such as the increase of floors of buildings. Subsequently, the Pafos EDA informed the Department of Environment that since it is governed by the status of the wider public sector and not the public sector, it cannot be represented by the Legal Service to proceed with the enforcement examination.
The Pafos EDA also informed that based on the preliminary review of the revised plans and the approved Chrysochous Bay Local Plan 2024, which may allow the construction of a three-storey building, exclusively for hotels, it consents to the granting of the requested development.
