The ambitious Land of Tomorrow development by Petrolina has taken another major step towards construction. The company recently announced that it has submitted the project's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to Cyprus' Department of Environment for review. Once environmental approval is granted, the project will be able to move on to the next stages of the planning process.
The total investment is estimated at approximately €533 million, with the development expected to be completed over a 15-year period. The new district will be built on the site of Larnaca's former oil refinery facilities—an area that remained a closed industrial zone for decades. Once completed, it is expected to become one of the largest modern urban developments in Cyprus.
What the new district will include
According to the proposed master plan, Land of Tomorrow will be a mixed-use development. The project will primarily feature residential neighbourhoods, office buildings, and commercial space, complemented by public areas and recreational facilities.
The development also includes a city hotel with a conference and exhibition centre, a separate five-star resort hotel, retail outlets, restaurants, cafés, and various service businesses. Future planning stages also envisage cultural facilities, including a museum dedicated to the history of the former oil refinery and Cyprus' fuel industry, as well as art galleries and exhibition spaces.
Experts note that this concept reflects Larnaca's modern urban development strategy, which increasingly focuses on creating neighbourhoods that combine residential, business, leisure, and tourism facilities within a single integrated community.
The project will be implemented in five phases. Applications have already been submitted for land subdivision and permits to demolish the existing industrial structures. These works are being processed separately and are not part of the current environmental assessment.
As the site was used for oil refining activities for decades, comprehensive Environmental Baseline Studies of the soil and groundwater were carried out before construction planning began. The results identified the need for remediation work to remove contamination from certain parts of the site. Environmental restoration has already started in some areas in accordance with government requirements and previously approved environmental programmes. Completing the site clean-up is considered one of the key prerequisites for the project's implementation.
Location and transport accessibility
The future development will be located along one of the region's main transport corridors—the Larnaca–Dhekelia Road—providing convenient access for both residents and visitors. A river channel and stormwater drainage system are situated nearby, helping to manage rainwater and protect the area from flooding. The site is not located within a nitrate-vulnerable zone or within protected drinking water catchment areas, making future development more straightforward while remaining subject to environmental protection requirements.
Land of Tomorrow is considered one of the largest investment projects undertaken in Cyprus in recent years. Once completed, it is expected to transform the eastern part of Larnaca by converting the former industrial site into a modern urban district featuring residential, commercial, business, and hospitality infrastructure.
The project is expected to create new jobs, attract additional foreign investment, strengthen Larnaca's appeal as a tourist destination, and become one of the main drivers of the city's real estate market in the coming years. At the same time, the authorities stress that every stage of construction will proceed only after the environmental assessment has been completed and all site remediation requirements have been fully met.