Filenews 22 August 2025 - by Angelos Nikolaou
A new chapter on sustainability and quality of life in Paphos opens with the promotion of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP), prepared by the competent authorities, with the aim of transforming the image of the city and the neighbouring areas. It is a comprehensive plan that seeks to promote the use of alternative modes of transportation, such as walking, cycling and public transport, while reducing dependence on the car. The Environmental Authority has already issued a positive opinion on the plan, provided that all the conditions and restrictions mentioned in the opinion are met.
The Paphos SUMP covers a wide area, including the Municipality of Paphos, the neighbouring municipalities of Geroskipou and Peyia, as well as communities such as Agia Varvara, Agia Marinouda, Armou, Achelia, Chloraka, Kissonerga, Konia, Lemba, Mesa Chorio, Marathounta, Mesogi, Tala, Timi, Emba, Tremithoussa and Tsada.
At the heart of the strategy are five main objectives: Cost-effectiveness of travel, accessibility and social inclusion, environmental sustainability, road safety, and upgrading the quality of life.
The plan was based on a thorough analysis of the current situation in the city and suburbs, while population and urban planning trends with a horizon of 2030 were examined. An increase in typical day travel in 2030 is projected to increase by a total of 17.1%.
The methodology includes scenarios of alternative strategies:
>> Reference Scenario: Based on already planned projects.
>> Alternative Scenario 1: It provides for limited interventions, mainly in the design of sidewalks and bicycle paths.
>> Alternative Scenario 2: It is the most ambitious, significantly enhances public transport, parking planning and integrates environmentally and citizen-friendly solutions.
According to the evaluation, Alternative Scenario 2 qualifies as the best option, as it has the greatest positive impact on all five key pillars.
The selected scenario (Strategic Scenario 2) includes actions concerning: Redevelopment of historical/commercial centers, designation of light traffic areas, definition of management measures (such as reduction of speed limits), improvement of soft mobility infrastructure, definition of controlled parking areas with high price, new road infrastructure projects, development of new vehicle parking areas, bicycle lanes and public transport.
The evaluation of the specific actions and objectives of the selected Scenario 2 was based on the following 4 criteria:
1. Active environmental protection (with a weight of 45%), to assess the effectiveness of the choice in relation to environmental protection and in addressing the effects of climate change (immediate environmental improvement).
2. Indirect positive or neutral environmental result (with a weight of 15%), in order to take into account in the evaluation of each option the indirect environmental effects achieved by supporting interventions characterized by indirect environmental aspects or their support has a neutral result.
3. Balance of resource allocation between options with a purely environmental dimension and options involving actions in other areas (with a weight of 25%), to be evaluated.
4. Strengthening sectors with negative environmental impacts (with a weight of 15%).
Its main goal is to improve accessibility and quality of life, achieving a shift towards the balanced and integrated development of all means of transport, guided by a long-term vision with specific quantitative targets and a clear implementation plan.
It is noted that the co-financing of these Projects has been ensured by the Cohesion Fund of the European Union at a rate of 85%, through the Operational Programme "Competitiveness and Sustainable Development" and 15% from national resources.
The major projects planned
Major developments by 2030 that are expected to be produced and attract travel due to either job creation/housing or by moving jobs to the new facility from somewhere else are: American University of Beirut-Mediterraneo, CUT, additions to the Coral Beach Hotel & Resort, establishment of the American University of Beirut Medical School & conversion of the Paphos General Hospital into a University Hospital, development of Neapolis University, two Schools (industrial area and Aristotle Savva Avenue), Zoning Revision, Roman Hotel I, II & Korantina, development of Aspire Area.
Furthermore, the redevelopment of historic and commercial centers and new reconstructions are proposed:
>> Regeneration of the traditional core of the Anavargos district.
>> Regeneration of the southern area of the traditional shopping centre of Paphos.
>> Regeneration of Theoskepastis Square and surrounding streets in Kato Paphos.
>> Historical Center & Museum of Historical Memory/ redevelopment of the square around the old Police Station which will function as the Museum of Historical Memory.
>> Extension of the redevelopment of Theoskepasti Square.
>> Expansion of the redevelopment of the southern area of the traditional commercial centre of Paphos & the Historical Centre & Museum of Historical Memory.
>> Special Areas of the Municipality of Geroskipou and the community councils of Chloraka, Emba and Konia.
Road infrastructure projects in the SUMP study area are: The coastal avenue Chlorakas – Kissonerga – Lembas, the western bypass road of Paphos, the avenue Arch. Makarios III ́ in Geroskipou, improvement and osmotic works in the traditional core of Geroskipou & Kato Vrysis – Geroskipou and improvement of A. Pavlou (Phase C) in Paphos.
Passenger traffic shows an increase in Scenario 2 and mainly on the axes of Arch. Makarios III Street and Apostolou Pavlou Avenue, which are reinforced by a densification of routes. Specifically, at the morning rush hour in Arch. Makarios III, passenger traffic increases from about 100 passengers to 250. At Apostolou Pavlou, passenger traffic at the morning peak is less than 50 passengers in each direction and increases to about 150. On the axis of Poseidonos Avenue, passenger traffic increases from about 50 passengers to 150.
Ellados, Agapinoros and the coastal avenue Chlorakas – Kissonerga – Lembas, are also strengthened by doubling or even tripling the passenger traffic they had.
In Scenario 2, accessibility by public means to the Municipality of Paphos from the municipalities of Chloraka, Geroskipou and Mesogi is maintained at the same level in all scenarios, while from Kato Paphos it is improved.
Mitigation and environmental monitoring measures
The Strategic Environmental Impact Study identifies 81 positive or neutral positive impacts from the implementation of the plan, compared to only 4 negative ones, which are considered reversible with the implementation of appropriate measures.
Negative impacts are mainly found in areas with high environmental sensitivity (soil, groundwater and surface water), mainly due to interventions in areas without adequate infrastructure. For these, mitigation measures are foreseen, such as the preparation of individual environmental studies and the restoration of the areas after the completion of the projects.
The study proposes a series of mitigation and environmental monitoring measures, such as: Strict compliance with environmental conditions at all stages, avoidance of works in or near protected areas, adoption of "green" technologies and climate-friendly designs, promotion of electromobility and mild forms of transport, public awareness and strengthening of the participatory process.
