in-cyprus 15 April 2025 - by Vasos Vassiliou
A popular reception hall has been built without planning permission and continues to operate despite objections from the Fire Service and other authorities, according to a scathing report by the Auditor General.
The venue, which hosts thousands of visitors and performances by well-known singers, lacks a final approval certificate but continues to operate with authorities turning a blind eye, Auditor General Andreas Papaconstantinou said in his report.
“The state has a responsibility to protect citizens who, unsuspecting, gather en masse at event venues and who reasonably assume that any business operating undisturbed obviously has all the necessary operating licences,” Papaconstantinou said.
Construction work began without permits in 2018 and was completed by 2020, while planning and building permits were only issued in 2023, the report revealed.
The venue continues to operate as a music and dance centre without a certificate of approval as it fails to meet conditions set in the relevant permits.
The Cabinet approved a derogation planning permit on condition that half the venue would operate as a film production studio, a requirement that has not been implemented, according to the audit.
The studio and reception hall areas were separated by movable panels rather than the required walls, apparently to allow the reception area to be enlarged by simply moving the panels.
An on-site inspection in April 2024 found numerous violations, including failure to develop green spaces, inadequate parking, and accessibility issues for people with disabilities.
“The venue, which serves a large number of visitors, operates with the tolerance of the competent authorities without an approval certificate being issued, resulting in failure to ensure compliance with terms relating to public health and safety,” the report stated.
The audit found that despite a court order in March 2018 to halt construction, work continued, prompting the Nicosia District Officer to file charges for non-compliance with the judicial decision.
The Technical Chamber of Cyprus (ETEK) opposed approval of the application, warning that it would create a negative precedent, encourage the construction of illegal premises and send the wrong messages.
The Tourism Deputy Ministry nevertheless granted an operating licence on the same day the building permit was issued in September 2023, raising questions about why this was approved without a certificate of approval from the Building Authority.
“The licensing of developments that are built and operate without first securing the relevant permits may create conditions of unfair competition between developments operating in the same sector,” the audit concluded.
