Six Municipalities of Greater Nicosia (Nicosia, Strovolos, Agios Dometios, Engomi, Aglantzia, Lakatameia) submitted on Monday, February 15, a unified Strategy and Joint Action Plan for the Integrated Spatial Development of the wider urban area of 20-20 On Tuesday, March 2, 2021, the presentation of the Planning was made to the Interdepartmental Evaluation Committee by the Mayor of Nicosia, Konstantinos Giorkatzis.
For the first time, the cooperation of the Municipalities of the wider urban area of the capital goes beyond its piecemeal approach and takes on an integrated character, in order to transform the largest urban area of Cyprus into a compact force for sustainable development, utilizing the unique comparative advantages of the city.
The Planning includes projects to be implemented – under the responsibility of both the collaborating Municipalities and the state and with funding from various European funds, national resources, Municipal resources or even leverage of private investments – such as: traffic planning, renovation of historic cores, waste management smart city, social programs, tram building and much more.
The indicative budget for the implementation of the plan, which has a horizon of ten years, amounts to approximately € 781 million and affects more than 200,000 of our fellow citizens (approximately 25% of the population of Cyprus).
The Integrated Spatial Development Strategy moves within the framework set by the European Commission for the programming period 2021-2027 and the relevant national investment priorities. This framework provides the possibility of a smooth and constructive transition through the completion and updating of the strategic planning for the period 2014-2020 for the Integrated Sustainable Urban Development of the Center of Nicosia and at the same time the expansion of interventions in additional areas of the wider urban area or / and face key environmental and other challenges.
Support for vulnerable areas
“One of the main goals of European funds is to address the problems facing disadvantaged areas. In Cyprus, the areas adjacent to the green line face the most serious problems such as the large number of abandoned buildings and the difficulties of attracting investment and new residents. It is necessary to allocate additional funds in these areas – except those that will be given on the basis of their population percentage – in order to be able to meet the multiple needs and challenges they face “, said the Mayor of Nicosia Konstantinos Giorkatzis during the presentation of the Plan.
In addition, Mr. Giorkatzis stated: “The six Municipalities of Greater Nicosia can not wait for the reform of Local Government. They are moving forward with a unified plan that aims to have a beneficial effect on urban Nicosia and its citizens. This effort will be strengthened if the competent authorities, who can influence, contribute to the promotion of the unification of Urban Nicosia, in the context of the reform of the Local Government “.
The Mayor of Nicosia finally reminded that about a year ago, five Mayors of Nicosia (Nicosia, Strovolos, Agios Dometios, Aglantzia and Engomi) had publicly stated that urban Nicosia must be one. “As far as I know, for the first time in the history of Cyprus, elected officials suggested the abolition of places for the good of Nicosia, with the aim of unified planning and the unified development of their city,” he said.
