Limassol Municipality announcement in response to an article on the construction of a high rise building on a coastal plot, east of the Municipal Garden

1. In response to an article, published in a daily newspaper on 1/10/18, on the construction of a high rise building on a plot east of the Municipal Garden, the Limassol Municipality states the following:  

2. This particular case concerns an application for the issue of a Planning Permit for the development of four (4) buildings on a plot of a total of 24.000 square meters in size.  It should be noted that the applicants have already secured a Planning Permit for the same plot from the previous Municipal Council for a single building, which permit is still in force. The new application under review concerns the same coverage rate as the one mentioned in the permit in force.

3. The application was reviewed by the Planning Committee and the Municipal Council, on the basis of the provisions of the Clarifying Framework defining the procedure for the licensing of high rise buildings, their height, the number of floors and distances.  

4. According to the Clarifying Framework, for buildings with a number of floors exceeding two (2), taking into consideration what is foreseen in the published Limassol Local Plan of 2011, the Municipal Council after reviewing the application on a preliminary basis, submits a well-documented file to the Director of the Town Planning and Housing Department and asks for the Director’s consent on the height and number of floors of the building.

5. The Clarifying Framework further sets the parameters on the basis of which each application is reviewed. These parameters concern the degree of integration of the building on the scale and space, the degree of influence with regard to the comfort of the surrounding residents, distances from the borders, landscaping of public spaces and aesthetic design issues.

6. For this specific application, the Municipal Council, after studying thoroughly the issues of the building’s height, number of floors and distances, forwarded a favourable recommendation in this case to the Director of the Town Planning and Housing Department, who replied by letter, requesting supporting information regarding the Municipal Council’s recommendation. It is hereby clarified that this plot is located within the urban centre and the information sent to the Town Planning and Housing Department include a traffic study, a shading study and positive views of the Environment Service and all Social Interest Authorities.

7. The letter of the Director of the Town Planning and Housing Department, to which the relevant article refers, was sent within the framework of the consultation between the Municipality, the Town Planning Authority and the Town Planning and Housing Department. The goal of this consultation is the mutual understanding and coordination between the Municipality and the Town Planning when it comes to applications for high rise buildings.  

8. After receiving this letter, the Municipality of Limassol, held further consultations with the Town Planning and Housing Department and the applicant, through which additional information emerged. All new information will be taken into consideration by the Director of the Town Planning and Housing Department in order to reassess the case.  

9. As it has already been pointed out, these applications for high rise buildings are reviewed meticulously and with due diligence by the Municipality of Limassol, always within the framework of the legislation and within the scope of a common approach with the Town Planning and Housing Department.    

10. The interest of our city and citizens is high on the list of priorities of the Municipality.  The views and philosophy of our Municipality have been publicised many times, and we have even proceeded to organise a public scientific seminar on the subject. The findings of the seminar have already been sent to the Minister of Interior and the relevant Government Departments, aiming at contributing to the re-evaluation of the high rise buildings issue, following the experience of recent years.