Ministry of Justice explores alternative site for new prison in Cyprus

The Cyprus Ministry of Justice and Public Order is actively considering an alternative location for the construction of a new prison, moving beyond its initial plan for the Mathiatis-Kataliontas area. This strategic shift follows ongoing resistance from the local community in Mathiatis regarding the project.

The proposed alternative site is an isolated area in Agios Sozomenos, Nicosia. Officials identified this location as advantageous because it consists of state-administered land, which avoids the need for private property expropriations required at the primary site. The ministry intends to keep this "Plan B" ready to prevent further delays in the development process.

To address local concerns, authorities have scheduled a presentation of the project’s master plan for the Mathiatis community this September. This preliminary spatial plan will detail the layout, access routes, and building complexes of the proposed prison. The ministry aims to resolve the impasse with Mathiatis residents while maintaining the secondary option as a contingency to ensure the project moves forward without significant temporal losses.