The House Interior Committee has examined the establishment of incentives for the development of peripheral areas in the Municipality of Nicosia with the Chairman of the Committee reporting MPs had been informed that there are 1,200 vacant housing units in these neighbourhoods.
The Chairman of the Committee, AKEL MP, Aristos Damianou, stated in his statements after the 6 November meeting that "the new Municipality of Nicosia, with the new administrative territory, extends to a radius of more than 30 kilometers", from the district of Aglandjia, Kaimakli, Vorios Polos, the community of Omorfitas, old Nicosia, to Agios Pavlos and Ayios Dhometios.
He pointed out that the remote areas face "huge economic and social issues" and that for this reason an effort is being made to launch solutions. He noted that with the difficulties that exist, especially for young people, in obtaining housing, solutions can be launched to address these problems, provided that the political will is demonstrated by the Government of Nikos Christodoulides, as Damianou said.
"The issue is a chronic one, but especially in our days when a higher cost of living and the economic crisis are at their peak, we must look at these issues with a sense of urgency," he said.
The solutions, according to Damianou, must include accelerating the processes of redevelopment of the walled city of Nicosia, updating the Local Plans of all cities, not just Nicosia, and utilising the existing stock.
"We were informed today at the meeting that over 1,200 units are vacant in Nicosia," he said, adding that there must be plans for renovation, sufficient financial incentives must be prvided, especially in remote areas, always with respect for the environment.
In response to a journalist's observation that there are other areas of Nicosia that face similar problems, as well as areas in other Municipalities, Damianou replied that the discussion began with some planned mature projects. "Of course, starting from Lympia and reaching Aglandjia, unfortunately, one finds that the occupation is there and affects other border areas as well," he said, adding that "the problem is also found in other areas, such as in the free Famagusta district ." He concluded by saying that discussion of these problems will be launched before the Interior Committee in the near future.
DISY MP Nikos Sykas stated the need to specialise and resolve the various issues that exist per region, within the framework of the local plan, has become apparent. “There should be political will for specialised support programs that will ensure decent movement and contribute to the issue of housing,” he said. The measures that will be implemented, he continued, must contribute to reducing the cost of housing.
The issue was also addressed by DIPA MP Marinos Mousiouttas, stating after the meeting that the Municipality of Nicosia includes residential areas along a 30km stretch of the "green line". He agreed that incentives are needed for the development of these areas, which are considered peripheral.
Today, the risk of abandonment or even ghettoization is evident, according to Moussioutas, who added that any incentives should be included in the new local plan, which is expected to be completed within the next two years, in order to develop these areas.
(Source: InBusinessNews)
