Incentives to demolish old, unsafe buildings

Old and structurally unsafe buildings in mainly urban areas will be demolished and new, modern buildings will take their place through a new government plan.

The cabinet approved a plan to provide incentives for razing old buildings, taking into consideration the image of degradation and the degree of danger of these buildings, which had been erected according to an earlier permit system providing for higher development factors.

An interior ministry spokeswoman clarified to the Cyprus Mail that the incentives did not include listed buildings, for which other protection measures were in place.

The incentives include maintaining the approved development factor of existing buildings, in the case it is higher than the maximum currently allowed.

Preconditions apply for utilising this incentive, which will apply for applications submitted within five years from the date of publication of the decision or for any applications pending for new development projects after the demolition of old and unsafe buildings.

The interior ministry aims at increasing the sense of safety among people, improving aesthetics and upgrading the image of towns and rural areas.

Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou said the decision was taken based on requests for high development factors.

Ioannou said maintaining the development factor means owners could demolish buildings and rebuild without losing out on the number of floors, for example.