The Holy Synod will convene in an extraordinary session on 24 March to consider approval for a substantial development project in Engomi on land owned by the Kykkos Monastery.
The proposed development spans a total area of 331,450 square metres, with construction planned across 324,855 square metres of the site.
Kykkos Bishop Nikiforos will present the proposal to the Synod, which must approve developments of this scale despite its approval being widely considered a formality. The Bishop is expected to outline the planned works and seek the necessary endorsement from the church’s governing body.
The land in question, located near the Kykkos Metochi and opposite the Phileleftheros offices, could theoretically accommodate 500-600 residential plots. However, the Bishopric has opted for a mixed-use development approach that will include residential, tourism, commercial, recreational, office, educational and medical facilities, alongside public green spaces and community equipment.
The tourism component will feature a five-star hotel with 255 rooms, while the medical facilities will include departments for pathology, paediatrics, obstetrics-gynaecology, surgery and emergency care. The educational element relates to the Cyprus Academy of Sciences and will include ceremonial and conference halls. The existing Engomi Health Centre, which is located within the proposed development area, will continue to operate.
According to planning documents, the development will distribute space allocation as follows:
- Residential units: 32% (63,526 square metres)
- Office spaces: 28% (56,586 square metres)
- Commercial uses: 15% (35,733 square metres)
- Hotel facilities: 12% (23,821 square metres)
- Recreation and entertainment spaces: 6% (11,911 square metres)
- Education and other uses: 4% (9,940 square metres)
Initial plans involved dividing the land into seven sections, later modified to eight, and now finalised at 12 distinct development areas.
The Nicosia Local Plan permits unified development of the property with mixed uses including residential, commercial, office and hotel facilities in this area.
