Larnaca faces a planning crunch at its former refineries site: a €30 million Art Center that must open by 2029, public works worth tens of millions stuck in delays, and over €1 billion in private developments waiting for permits.
The Art Center, designed by renowned architecture firm Foster + Partners, must be ready before Larnaca becomes European Capital of Culture in 2030.
But the building sits within the “Larnaka-Land of tomorrow” development—one of three major private projects that haven’t secured planning permits yet. The municipality handed over the Art Center plot as part of the development deal.
Meanwhile, the town is fighting a separate battle: pushing consultants to create sandy beaches instead of just promenades along the freed 3km coastal strip.
The beach fight
A Public Works Department study on addressing erosion and developing the coastal front was awarded in August 2024 with a two-year timeline. It’s already running late on interim deliverables.
Mayor Andreas Vyras recently met Transport Minister Alexis Vafeadis to push for sandy beaches, not just the promenades outlined in the Area Scheme.
“What we want is as much public beach as possible, not a space like the Limassol pier, so people can enjoy the sea,” Vyras said. “The Area Scheme may say promenade, but we want them to tell us how to create a public beach as well. We want a public beach, public promenade and parks to enhance public access to the area.”
Vafeadis backed him. “We raised the issue of developing the coastal front of the former Larnaca refineries early and convened a meeting with all stakeholders, so planning can proceed with clear direction,” the Transport Minister said. “We prefer creating a sandy beach with gentle interventions, without hard elevated measures, for a modern, accessible and sustainable public space.”
Vyras said the vision is to unite the city with a pedestrian road running from Oroklini to Finikoudes. “The area must have a public character, with parks and beach. What we want is to ensure the public character of the area,” he said. When the study wraps up, a tender will go out for construction.
The three-phase works plan
The Area Scheme breaks public works into three phases.
Phase one tackles erosion and creates a park along the beach for recreation and activities. Primary roads will also be finished.
Phase two includes redeveloping the Archangelos-Kamitsi river bed and the coastal road near the Larnaca Nautical Club. The river will become a green lung and leisure space. Psiloreiti street will become an environmental road encouraging pedestrians and cyclists along a tree-lined avenue, with small shops and cafes.
Phase three builds a network of pedestrian and cycling paths connecting to Oroklini lake and other parts of Larnaca, including the large coastal pedestrian road.
Where the €1bn projects stand
Three major private developments, announced to top €1 billion over time, will reshape the area. But they’re stuck waiting for permits.
Petrolina group has submitted a master plan for “Larnaka-Land of tomorrow” on approximately 400,000 square metres. EKO Cyprus owns a 55,000 square metre plot next to Larnaca port.
Furthest along is Solvin Ltd, which wants to build two towers on 27,224 square metres near the Larnaca Nautical Club. Solvin is waiting for a planning permit to start beach reclamation, then construction.
For Petrolina and EKO, subdivision applications are still pending. The Town Planning Department said the applications are at the consultation stage—Water Development and Public Works departments must weigh in, and environmental opinions are still outstanding.
Town Planning is trying to speed things up, given that the Larnaca 2030 Art Center will sit on a coastal plot in the “Land of tomorrow” space.
Art Center progress
“Procedures are progressing for the Art Center. Instructions have been given for the building design and we’re now working to get the first subdivision permit so we can submit an application for a planning permit for the building,” Vyras said.
A large team of consultants and advisors is working on the Art Center. Vyras said funding will come from the next cycle of European Cohesion Policy Funds.