Newsroom
Construction at the Leonardo Club Latchi (Latsi) hotel has repeatedly tested the limits of Cyprus’ urban planning laws. Work on the site began before the first urban planning permit was issued, and later unauthorized additions were retroactively legalized. Now, authorities say environmental violations---including illegal landfilling and dumping of concrete, soil, and other debris---have been identified, while the required building permit remains pending in the office of the Paphos EOA licensing authority.
The hotel, developed by Israeli investors on the former site of the Elias Latchi Holiday Village Resort, has been controversial from the start. Officials note that the EOA of Paphos approved an amendment in 2025 to allow the complex to operate as a 4-star hotel with 480 beds, effectively adding a third floor in an environmentally sensitive area. The decision drew criticism both inside and outside the council, with local residents warning of potential long-term environmental damage.
This pattern, building first and seeking approval later, has frustrated regulators and residents alike, who fear the project may set a precedent for future developments
According to the Department of Environment, construction began well before the first urban planning permit (PAF/283/2023, issued October 27, 2023) and building permit (B17/2023) were in place. When officials discovered unauthorized additions, extra floors, and apartments, the developer sought retroactive permits to legalize the work. Yet, even after approval, further violations have surfaced. On March 12, 2025, authorities reported large-scale landfilling and illegal dumping on plot 44 in Chrysochou, including soil, concrete slabs, plastic piping, nylon, and metal waste.
Despite repeated warnings and written notifications, the EOA of Paphos has yet to respond to these environmental breaches, raising concerns about enforcement and oversight. Experts and institutional officials note that the project may continue to operate without adequate monitoring, prompting questions about whether the hotel can comply with town planning and environmental regulations once it opens.
Complicating matters further, the Aesthetic Control Committee’s consent was not included in reports that led to the approval of the amended permit, a procedural oversight that has now been flagged by officials. This committee is responsible for ensuring that construction projects fit the landscape and preserve visual and environmental standards. Its absence has raised suspicions that crucial safeguards were ignored.
Authorities also highlight that urban planning zones were amended on June 7, 2025, allowing a second application to further legalize violations from the first permit. This pattern, building first and seeking approval later, has frustrated regulators and residents alike, who fear the project may set a precedent for future developments in environmentally sensitive areas.
For locals, Leonardo Club LAtchi is more than a hotel—it’s a symbol of how development can outpace regulation, with permitted work, illegal construction, and environmental oversight running on parallel, sometimes conflicting tracks. With the building permit still pending and new violations emerging, both authorities and residents are watching closely to see whether the project can be brought under full legal compliance.
*Read the unabridged Greek version by Apostolos Tomaras here.
