No final decision has yet been made by the government regarding the redevelopment of the Nicosia State Fairgrounds. Any decisions will be taken only after reviewing the counter-proposal submitted by Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos. The matter is scheduled for discussion today by the Parliamentary Committee on Internal Affairs, with representatives from the Nicosia Municipality and relevant state agencies present.

The government’s initial development plan for the State Fairgrounds includes:

• A research center and laboratories

• Offices for educational institutions and ready-to-use workspaces

• A hotel and conference center

• Residential apartments, restaurants, cafés, and retail outlets

• A public bus terminal and a stormwater reservoir within a designated 20% green space, as required by law

The plan also proposes road widening, six new roundabouts, and large parking facilities at Lefkotheo and Makario Stadium, connected by bus routes to serve incoming traffic.

Despite not officially withdrawing the original plan, the matter has not been formally discussed in the Parliamentary Committee for over a year.

Mayor Charalambos Prountzos has submitted an alternative vision: converting the Fairgrounds into a Metropolitan Park, retaining only a small number of existing exhibition pavilions. Speaking to OffsiteNews, he stated that the Nicosia Municipal Council opposes the government’s development blueprint. "We have already submitted our proposal to the government and are awaiting a response. The land belongs to the government, so the final decision is theirs—but they must finally give an answer," he emphasized.

Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Internal Affairs, Aristos Damianou, confirmed that the issue was placed on the agenda so that the government could clarify its final stance. “We want to see whether the government has changed its position on hotels and tech parks. We’re hearing conflicting messages,” he noted. “The Mayor of Nicosia has been clear. We want to know if the government will adopt a plan aligned with the wishes of the local communities.”

For years, residents of Engomi have strongly opposed the proposed redevelopment, arguing it would worsen congestion in the area. Instead, they advocate for transforming the space into a large-scale urban park.

The community's frustration led to the creation of a grassroots movement: The Initiative Group for a Human-Centered Engomi. They have collected signatures and are campaigning to cancel the redevelopment plans and replace them with a national park project.

OffsiteNews also contacted the Ministries of Interior and Finance, as well as the Department of Town Planning. All confirmed that no final decision has been made, as the Mayor’s counter-proposal is still under review.

According to Irini Chatzisavva, Senior Town Planning Officer, once the proposal has been fully assessed, the Ministry of Finance will evaluate the findings before making a decision. "There was public backlash, which is why we began reconsidering the plan. It’s a large area that could be used in many different ways."

Chatzisavva added that the proposal will soon be reviewed by the team working on the Local Plan for Nicosia and the Urban Planning Council, which will launch a public consultation process.