INTERIOR Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou yesterday signed an agreement for the building of new refugee housing in the Nicosia suburb of Anthoupolis.
The project will take place over three phases, beginning in June and continuing over 14 months. Phase one will see the construction of four buildings, each containing 16 two or three bedroom apartments and costing a total of about £2 million.
September of this year should see the beginning of construction of a further 270 single or double storey houses costing £2.2 million. At the same time, another 260 apartments are to be built over 14 months costing £2.5 million.
Overall the three phases will cost around £7 million.
On completion of the project, another 40 apartments and more houses will be built over the next four years, costing around £20 million.
It has not been decided if the deeds of the housing will be given to the refugees. “This will be discussed by the Attorney-general and the newly elected House,” said Christodoulou.
Christodoulou said that in cases of bad workmanship any problems would be taken care of, even if the project needed to be delayed.
The entire project will last four years and will cost around £60 million.
The government has come under fire over recent months because of the dilapidated state of much of the island’s refugee housing and has promised a comprehensive building and restoration programme to remedy the situation.
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