Filenews 18 March 2025
The numbers are impressive. Plot area 331.450 square meters (sq.m.), hotel of 255 rooms, 6.021 parking spaces, of which 292 will be configured for use by people with disabilities, 49.018 sq.m. green space and so on.
The reason for the promoted development on land of the Metropolis of Kykkos, near the homonymous Metochi and opposite "Fileleftheros" in Engomi.
The development will also be examined by the Holy Synod, which meets extraordinarily on March 24 in order to be informed by Metropolitan Nikiforos of Kykkos and give its approval.
The approval, although necessary (due to its scope) but largely considered formal, in the sense that it will be implemented in cooperation with investors after a long-term study of the data concerning the whole project. The Synodists had been informed informally from time to time, but now it was time for decisions and formal approval.
As can be seen from the relevant texts accompanying the proposed development, different investors will be involved in the project, depending on the type of each development.
It is noted that large developments promoted by dioceses always pass through the Holy Synod.
The total area of the land (on which the development will be implemented) amounts to 331,450 sq.m. and belongs to the Metropolis of Kykkos. Of the 331,450 sq.m., the buildable area will cover 324,855 sq.m.
It is worth noting that taking into account the size of the plot and the square meters required for a piece of land to be considered a plot, theoretically 500-600 plots could be separated. In this case, the path of mixed development was chosen, which includes the following uses: Residential, tourist, commercial, recreational, office, education, medical, public green and community equipment.
Especially regarding tourism development, researchers record that it will include a five-star hotel consisting of 255 rooms. Moreover, the proposed medical facilities will include departments of pathology, paediatrics, obstetrics-gynaecological surgery and first aid, while the proposed use of training concerns the Cyprus Academy of Sciences and will include ceremonial and conference rooms.
It is also noted that the existing Health Center of Engomi (which is located in the proposed development site) will continue to operate.
Residential units will occupy 32% of the area (63.526 sq.m.), commercial uses 15% (35.733 sq.m.), office space 28% (56.586 sq.m.), hotel 12% (23.821 sq.m.), recreation and entertainment areas 6% (11.911 sq.m.) and education with other uses 4% (9.940 sq.m.).
The initial and revised plans mainly concerned the division of land into seven parts, which was later modified, into eight parts, and then to the existing design which concerns 12 parts.
For the unified development of the proposed area and in accordance with the provisions of the Nicosia Local Plan, a relevant General Spatial Plan has been prepared, which will define the strategy and development ideology that will be followed by the individual developments in the future. The implementation of the spatial plan is expected to be done independently and gradually by various bodies/investors on a design, construction, financing and operation basis, according to the parameters of the overall Spatial Plan. That is, each interested investor will be responsible for the design and construction of his own (individual) development that will be part of the proposed spatial plan, taking into account the parameters proposed.
According to the calculations presented in the proposed Spatial Plan, a total area of 49,018 square meters is included, which will be used as a green space with the central green space amounting to 31,382 sq.m., while landscaping is proposed around the plot under study, in the largest part of its periphery. The remaining area of the site will be allocated for the construction of an internal road network and sidewalks, while part of it (southeast and southwest end) will be used as street planning (total area of street planning: 7,040 sq.m.).
For vehicle and pedestrian access to the area under study, access will be formed on Georgiou Griva Digeni Avenue, Agios Prokopios Avenue, Macedonia Avenue and Nikos Kranidioti and Andreas Avraamides Streets.
According to the existing standards for parking spaces, the proposed development will include in its entirety (after the implementation of the proposed Spatial Plan) 6,021 parking spaces, of which 292 will be configured for use by people with disabilities.
When the examination of the proposed project began, there were four auxiliary spaces on the plot, and an external building, which concern a nursery shop (built in 2007, in good condition), a wine warehouse (built in 1980, in poor condition), a fertilizer warehouse (built in 1980, in poor condition) and the Health Center of Engomi, which consists of an electrical substation and the hospital unit (both built in 2007, in good condition). Also, part of the area is used for parking purposes: (a) In the southeastern part of the plot to serve the private university "European University Cyprus" (area 3,750 sq.m.), and (b) at the northwest end of the plot to serve neighbouring developments (area 9,500 sq.m.). Also, within the plot there were various small accommodations.
In the large green space that will be formed, a large number of trees and plants are expected to be planted.
In the positive effects of the project, the researchers say that these mainly concern socio-economic benefits, such as the employment of local skilled and other population, at all stages of the project, the influence of the developmental character of the area and the creation of a pole of concentration and development of multiple uses.
It is noted that the Nicosia Local Plan in the area under development allows for the unified development of the property with mixed uses such as residential, commercial, office and hotel use.
