Cyprus Mail 12 March 2025 - by Charalambos Stylianou
Cabinet has on Wednesday approved a special urban planning scheme aimed at supporting developments in primary and secondary education. The initiative is designed to enhance the educational sector, recognising its importance in improving quality of life and reinforcing social cohesion.
Minister of the Interior, Constantinos Ioannou, made the announcement after the cabinet session. He stated that the Christodoulides government recognises education as a cornerstone of the country’s strategy for societal and economic growth.
This new scheme will address the urgent need for expansion and upgrade of private educational infrastructure, particularly in light of increasing demand from both local and international communities.
The geopolitical shifts in Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean in recent years have led to a surge of foreign nationals relocating to Cyprus for work and residence. This demographic shift has created a pressing need for new educational facilities and improvements to existing institutions. Ioannou explained that the ongoing changes in population numbers, from both European and non-European countries, are central to the creation of this new urban planning incentive for primary and secondary schools.
The scheme offers urban planning incentives to support the expansion of existing private schools, while also creating opportunities for new, model schools to be built. According to the minister, the plan allows existing schools to make additions and modifications to upgrade their facilities and better serve growing student populations. The scheme also aligns with the government’s broader policy to attract and facilitate investments from both domestic and international stakeholders, in light of the growing potential within the education sector.
Key features of the plan include an increased building coefficient, ranging from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, depending on the development area. Additionally, the scheme allows for deviations from standard requirements concerning open spaces and sports facilities, with a 25 per cent reduction in these standards possible, provided the approval of the ministry of education is obtained.
The application and review process for the plan will be expedited through a simplified fast-track procedure. As highlighted by Ioannou, the department of town planning and housing will remain the competent authority for issuing planning permits for educational institutions. The scheme will run for one year, after which its performance will be evaluated.
Ioannou emphasised the importance of linking this urban planning scheme with the government’s housing policy. A compensatory measure, amounting to 20 per cent of the excess value of the developments, will be allocated to the special fund of the Cyprus organisation for land development (KOAG) for affordable housing. This initiative aims to support the implementation of the KOAG’s housing programmes, further contributing to the overall development of the country’s infrastructure.
