Larnaca court awards compensation for property restrictions in Aradippou

On October 14, 2026, the District Court of Larnaca ruled in case 420/2019 that the Republic must pay €19,189.37 in damages to landowners in Aradippou. The court also ordered the payment of legal costs and interest, calculated from April 10, 2019, until the final settlement.

The dispute centered on private properties that were designated by the state for the construction of a primary school. Although the land was placed under a long-term restriction, the formal expropriation process was never carried out. The court found that this indefinite reservation prevented the owners from developing their land, specifically citing it as the reason for the rejection of a previous application to divide the area into 31 building plots. The court determined that the subsequent issuance of planning permits did not negate the financial losses incurred during the period of restriction.

This ruling underscores the legal principle that the state cannot hold private property in limbo without providing compensation when those restrictions impede the owners' ability to utilize or monetize their assets. The decision serves as a significant precedent for property rights protection against administrative inaction in Cyprus.