The scandal around the elite Sun City Spa Resort & Residences in Ayia Napa is not subsiding.
The case of illegal construction of additional floors in the luxury tourist complex has been handed over to the new Minister of Interior, Konstantinos Ioannou.
As expected, he will decide the long-standing dispute between the developer and local officials. Essentially, the minister is tasked with executing or rejecting the decision of the previous government, which in January 2023 voted to grant permission for construction in deviation from the provisions of the Local Plan for the development of free areas of Famagusta for Sun City Spa Resort & Residences regarding the legalization of additional floors on the recommendation of the Deviation Examination Council.
New details emerged during the investigation. It turned out that before starting the expansion of the project, the developer received a conditional "green" light from competent authorities in the context of incentives to which he was entitled, like other companies with similar developments. He was offered to build additional floors upward, rather than making an extension horizontally, in order not to block access to the beach. Following the instructions, the developer built two levels in the main building, but never received the corresponding permission for them. Meanwhile, following the instructions of the Council of Ministers, the developer paid €410,000 to the municipality of Sotiras as compensation for deviating from the rules. However, their documents are still under review. It should be noted that the decision Ioannou will make will affect not only investors who have already experienced an increase in the cost of hotel complex construction, but also the municipality of Sotiras, since the project is vital for the economy and residents of the area. In addition to creating over 200 new jobs, it will make a significant contribution to the development of both the municipality and the surrounding areas.
Reminder that the complex is being built on the coast of Ayia Napa.
The main problem is that it borders the protected Natura 2000 area, where there are certain restrictions on the construction of residential and commercial buildings.
The Audit Service of Cyprus has found that the project was implemented with numerous violations. Initially, the developer was granted permission to build the 5-star luxury Sun City Spa Resort hotel and the complex of exquisite Sun City Villas. One of the project's shareholders is the scandalously well-known former opposition AKEL parliament member Christakis Giovannis.
The hotel was supposed to consist of a basement, ground floor, and five above-ground floors. However, it turned out that Jimchang Cyprus Developing Co Ltd illegally built two additional floors in the building, violating the ecological permit and license issued to them by the Department of Urban Planning. At the same time, the developer refused to demolish them.
By the way, the land plot on which the project is located is in the tourist zone T2a, where hotels are allowed a maximum of five floors. The developer submitted the necessary application for the construction of additional floors in the hotel, but only after the work on them was completed. As a result, they were unable to obtain permission since their application and appeal were rejected. After lengthy proceedings, Jimchang Cyprus Developing Co Ltd filed another appeal, which was approved five days before the inauguration of the new government.
Interested in property in Ayia Napa? Contact the experts at the #1 real estate agency in Cyprus, DOM, by phone at +357 23 010149 or come to the office at Protaras Avenue 243, Paralimni 5290, Famagusta, Cyprus.