A scandal is brewing in Latchi over the illegal construction of a new hotel.
Recently, the Paphos EOA filed a lawsuit against the developer.
It turns out that numerous violations in the course of the project's realisation have caused concern among the authority and environmentalists. The stumbling block was the illegal construction of third floors in the hotel buildings. The Paphos EOA sought an order to demolish them. The decision to go to court was taken after it was discovered that construction was continuing despite repeated notices to stop the project. This was the third official notice sent by the EOA since construction began.
The Israeli investor was granted a licence to build a large hotel in Latchi in December 2023. The project is located on the site of the former Elia Latchi Holiday Village complex, later renamed Zening Hotel Eco Resort. The licence was granted for the construction of 2-storey tourist apartments. Some time later, the developer submitted a new application for the construction of a larger hotel complex, including a water park and 3-storey buildings. At the same time, construction of the third floors of the buildings began, despite the lack of planning permission. In May 2024, thePlanning Department issued a stop work order. However, according to the department, the developer failed to comply.
Following warnings from the Paphos EOA last summer, construction was initially halted. However, reports surfaced that work on the illegal third floor had secretly resumed. A few weeks ago, a motion was submitted to the Paphos EOA council requesting retrospective approval for the third floor, sparking a heated debate.
In July 2024, the municipal authorities of Polis Chrysochous made changes to the zoning of the area, allowing the project to be partially approved and proceed. However, these changes raised doubts - it is suspected that the changes may have been made retrospectively to suit the developer's plans. The developer has also decided to withdraw the application for the water park, but is still seeking permission to build a three-storey 480-bed hotel complex.
The head of the Paphos EOA, Haralambos Pittokopitis, said that since the developer was continuing with the project, his office had decided to file a lawsuit against him in order to suspend the process pending the decision of the Cyprus Environment Ministry.
Paphos mayor Phedonas Phedonos, for his part, expressed his disappointment at the situation.
In this country, we have to learn how to build after getting permission. However, some people do as they please,' he said, condemning those using 'backdoor methods' to maintain the illegality and vowing that their actions would eventually be exposed.