Integrated Limassol Development (ILD) 2021 – 2027

Major development initiatives have been taken by the Limassol Municipality in recent decades. The most emblematic of these initiatives are the interventions that occurred in the new port, the marina and the old port, the integration of the CUT in the historic city centre and the urban redevelopment in the neighbourhoods of Ayios Ioannis and the northern neighbourhoods of Tsiflikoudia area.

Currently, the Limassol Municipality’s development initiatives are at a critical juncture. On the one hand, they should complement and improve the strategic planning of 2014 and on the other hand, based on current conditions and specific expertise, they should extend the good practices as these were implemented in specific areas, throughout the Municipality and in the wider urban area of Limassol, creating the conditions for a comprehensive spatial development that will not be confined to administrative districts or neighbourhoods, nor exclude social strata. The Limassol Municipality is already undertaking development projects in the major districts of the city, the implementation of which will begin within the year. The objective for 20177 is to develop this potential to cover the major urban area of Limassol. To do so, the Municipality will seek to co-operate and coordinate actions with the other Limassol Municipalities.

The objective of improving and extending the strategic development planning of the Limassol Municipality cannot leave the scope set by both the European Commission for the new programming period and the national priorities set.

In this context, we proceeded to the design of the ILD (Integrated Limassol Development) project 2012 – 2027. The project is a strategic plan for integrated spatial development that will provide for the diffusion of development through specific actions and projects in all districts of the city as well as in the wider urban area of Limassol.

Based on the above, the project Integrated Limassol Development aims to make Limassol a smart, green, citizen-friendly city, attractive to businesses that will support social cohesion, innovation, entrepreneurship and confirm its metropolitan role by 2027.

In particular, the targeting of the new development strategy for Limassol will include the following axes:

Α. Improving the citizen’ quality of life

The primary objective of local government is to continuously improve the quantity and quality of services provided. We focus on citizens and their day-to-day needs, whether they concern their movement, entertainment, environment or the cleanliness of the city and generally what shapes and determines their quality of life.

Β. Strengthening social cohesion

Each development is accompanied by a number of social problems that need to be addressed, issues relating to vulnerable groups, affordable housing and social housing etc. Limassol should be a socially cohesive city, supporting vulnerable social strata and intervening when necessary to reinforce social fabric and promote diversity.

C. Improving the environment.

The environment should be one of our main targets especially at a time when its protection is identified with the survival of not only one city, but of the entire planet. Green sceneries, clean beaches and clean air should be our priorities.

D. Supporting and promoting entrepreneurship and innovation

When it comes to entrepreneurship, the aim of the Municipality is dual:  on the one hand, the Municipality seeks to help support Small and Medium-sized businesses to enhance their competitive advantages and showcase their extroversion and on the other hand to make Limassol a “City-magnet” for start-up and scale-up businesses. By utilising university institutions and active scientific forces of the city, we aim to create smart and innovative solutions that will enhance the quality of life of the citizens.

E. Upgrading municipal services and e-governance

To promote a development strategy, the Municipality must first of all change itself. This is why we aim for an efficient Municipality with minimal bureaucracy, supporting both the public and businesses. Our ambition is to organise and operate the Limassol Municipality as a role model for the entire Cyprus Local Government.

How do we proceed?

In order to achieve our goals, it is a prerequisite to inform the citizens and cooperate with all Limassol strategic partners. To this end, the new strategic development plan for Limassol will, from a very early date, be put into public consultation with all stakeholders and active citizens.

In this context, we will be holding meetings with the other Limassol Municipalities, our strategic partners, professional bodies, Limassol Chambers, university institutions, church authorities and citizens. The consultation initiated by the Limassol Municipality aims to include all Local Authorities, city authorities and active citizens in a dialogue on the development of the Integrated Limassol Strategic Development Plan for Limassol 2027.

The goal is to enrich our strategic development plan with new ideas and proposals so that by the end of 2019 we have completed our basic planning. Then, in 2020, we will proceed to find funding for projects, which can be done in a variety of ways: community funds, government sponsorship, municipal projects and alternative funding methods with the involvement of the private sector.