Kofinou, Cyprus. Members of the House refugees committee on Tuesday called on the government to build more houses in the Larnaca village of Kofinou and to develop a sustainable plan attractive to descendants of displaced persons.
Calls for construction on unused state land
Committee members said housing should be built on unused state-owned land in the village, noting that almost all of it is Turkish Cypriot-owned.
Village housing situation and impact on young residents
Kofinou mukhtar Constantinos Antoniou said there are 400 houses in the village, of which 300 are inhabited. He added that many young people in Kofinou continue to live with their parents due to a lack of alternative options.
Concerns over delays and housing design
Committee chairman and Akel MP Nikos Kettiros said many young couples who grow up in Kofinou are forced to move to neighbouring villages or, in some cases, to Nicosia, Larnaca or Limassol, as they have been waiting for more than 10 years for a solution.
Kettiros said the committee does not consider the plan for Kofinou to be closed or a failure, and that it is awaiting the results of consultations between the Cyprus land development organisation, the interior ministry and the village council.
He said the most recent plan by the land development organisation drew objections from residents because it entailed the construction of two-bedroom apartments, and he called for three-bedroom apartments as more suitable for young families.
Disy proposals on land development and zoning
Disy MP Rita Superman called for the establishment of a special regime for the development of unused state-owned land and for the government to begin developing Turkish Cypriot-owned property in the village.
She also said the government should re-examine the current zoning regime in and around the village to benefit young people who grew up there by allowing them the right to build a house at a low cost.
What changes should the government prioritise to expand affordable housing options for young families in Kofinou?
