Regional (spatial) planning concerns the planning, organisation and management of space and is an important factor in a country's development potential. It serves the needs arising from national strategic objectives, while giving all parts of the country equal opportunities to develop on the assumption that development will respond to their strengths and potential. It targets and contributes to growth so that it is at the same time economically, socially and environmentally sustainable and is a key pillar for the development of an economy.
The absence of holistic regional planning in Cyprus has led to the following consequences:
- providing solutions at the local level through fragmented efforts, which are not guided by development objectives at the national level,
- unbalanced development of the different regions,
- absence of a distinctive character and specific development role for each city/region,
- emphasis on a few development sectors,
- inappropriate use of natural/territorial resources,
- depopulation of the countryside and abandonment of important areas,
- insufficient preservation and enhancement of our cultural heritage and
- lack of coordination and synergy between different policies.
The Cyprus Council of Economy and Competitiveness (CECC) considers that the implementation of a comprehensive regional planning should be a priority in the planning of the state, as it will allow a holistic approach to the problems mentioned above. The EPAAC also underlines that the preparation of such a plan should be linked to the Government's new Long Term Strategy "Vision 2035", which charts the development path of Cyprus with the aim of transitioning to a new, modern economic model.
See here the proposal of the CNAC, which is posted on the Council's website.
(ΕΠ/ΣΧ)
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