Dorita Yiannakou
The Finance Ministry is working on plans to redesign the State Fairgrounds and redevelop the SOPAZ area, with the goal of reaching a positive outcome before the end of the year. Plans to convert the State Fairgrounds into the Nicosia Metropolitan Park and potentially redevelop the SOPAZ area with multiple uses, including innovation zones, residential developments, educational facilities and other complementary functions, appear to have become stuck in procedural matters. We understand that the Finance Ministry, specifically its Directorate of Strategy and Reforms, is examining several procedural and legal issues related to the final planning of both projects. As “K” reported, the Finance Ministry wants to see progress on both Nicosia projects by the end of the year. Once the Ministry gives the green light for the two projects, the Council of Ministers will have to approve a decision allowing the Municipality to take over management of the site and allocating funds for immediate restoration work, following a public commitment by President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides. However, despite the government’s political commitment, final decisions on the two projects have been delayed, causing concern among residents, particularly over the revision of the Nicosia Local Plan and, consequently, the proposal to convert the State Fairgrounds into a Metropolitan Park.
In this context, Nicosia Municipality is opening a dialogue with residents and inviting them to take an active role in shaping the capital’s new development plan. The first public meeting will take place on Friday, September 4, 2026, while the second will take place on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
The meetings will include a presentation on the process of preparing the New Nicosia Local Plan, followed by an open discussion where residents can ask questions, share their views and make proposals.
The goal is, first, to inform residents about the process currently underway and, second, to gather their views, positions and proposals so they can be taken into account when shaping the capital’s new development plan. The public meetings will cover the municipal districts of Nicosia, Aglantzia, Engomi and Agios Dometios.
The background and the plan
The decision to convert the State Fairgrounds into the West Nicosia Metropolitan Park was formally approved by the Nicosia Municipal Council on November 6, 2024, after Charalambos Prontzos took over as mayor.
According to the minutes of the meeting, the Municipal Council unanimously decided to recommend that the government revoke previous Council of Ministers decisions concerning the use of the State Fairgrounds and transfer management of the entire plot to the Municipality, with the goal of converting it into the West Nicosia Metropolitan Park.
The Municipality made its position public again on November 27, 2024, when it sent letters to the President of the Republic and the Ministers of Energy and Finance requesting that a park be created at the State Fairgrounds site. On June 30, 2025, the President of the Republic announced the creation of a three-member committee and an initial agreement on the approach to two major sites in Nicosia. One is the State Fairgrounds area, which would be converted into a Metropolitan Park. The other is the SOPAZ area, where plans call for redevelopment with a development focus and a sustainable approach.
Under the current plans, the State Fairgrounds would become the largest Metropolitan Park in Cyprus. Most of the site would be dedicated to green space and recreation. The plans also include specific facilities, such as a stormwater retention pond. The open spaces would feature sports courts, cycling routes and extensive running paths. Most of the more than 50 pavilions, many of which are in poor condition and at risk of collapse, would be demolished. Around four pavilions would remain, depending on the condition of the structures, and would be used as exhibition spaces. Covered areas would account for no more than 10% of the total State Fairgrounds site, while the cost of demolishing the structures and clearing the site has been estimated at approximately €2 million.
SOPAZ
At the same time, decisions are also expected on SOPAZ. The project is expected to transform eastern Nicosia through new land uses and strategic developments. As “K” reported in February, international firm KPMG, which was commissioned to prepare a feasibility study for the area, proposed a development plan comprising nine distinct uses or functional areas, with a total cost of €389 million. Together, these would create a modern, multifaceted urban hub.
According to the feasibility study submitted to the Finance Ministry, the potential redevelopment of the SOPAZ area is being considered through multiple uses, including innovation zones, residential developments, student housing, modern specialized infrastructure for film and audiovisual productions, educational facilities, a hotel, a conference and exhibition center, and government offices.
The plan is based on the idea that the different uses should complement one another, creating a vibrant and resilient urban environment that remains active throughout the day. The integration of state-owned land, covering 166 donums, is considered essential to the success of the SOPAZ redevelopment project.
