Audit office reports continued illegal operation of event venue in Nicosia district

The Audit Office of Cyprus issued a report on November 13, 2026, criticizing the state’s failure to enforce building and town planning laws regarding the 'Prince Luxury Events' venue in Lympia, Nicosia. Despite eight years of investigations and the public exposure of findings in April 2025, the venue continues to operate in violation of essential permit conditions and without a certificate of occupancy, raising significant concerns regarding public health and safety.

The case dates back to 2018 when construction began in an agricultural zone, continuing even after a court order to halt works was issued. Although the Council of Ministers rejected an application in 2019, construction was completed by 2020. Since then, the owner has submitted six consecutive town planning applications in an attempt to legalize the facility. The Audit Office highlighted that a previous court case regarding unauthorized construction and disobedience of court orders was withdrawn under instructions from the Nicosia District Officer.

General Auditor Andreas Papakonstantinou noted the state’s chronic inability to restore legality, pointing to a systemic failure characterized by ongoing tolerance of illegalities. Authorities continue to review various modification requests, while no fines or effective judicial measures have been implemented to shut down the non-compliant operations.