Boosting the restoration of historic buildings in Cyprus

The Cabinet has approved an increase in the maximum recognised restoration costs for listed buildings, addressing the recent rise in material and labour expenses. The new limits raise costs from €1,400 to €1,700 per square metre for buildings up to 300 sqm, from €1,300 to €1,600 for buildings between 301 and 1,000 sqm, and from €1,000 to €1,300 for buildings over 1,001 sqm. The move aims to close the gap between actual restoration costs and recognised funding, encouraging owners to maintain and restore historic properties.

Alongside the cost adjustments, the Ministry of Interior is implementing reforms to modernise the management of listed buildings. Measures include fast-track licensing, exemptions from building permits for low-risk work, a unified repository for building data, a single licensing point, regional Conservation Branch offices, digital cultural heritage records, and a handbook for owners and restoration specialists.

These changes are designed to create a **more flexible, modern framework** that supports restoration work while safeguarding Cyprus’s historic town and village centres. By easing administrative procedures and updating funding limits, the government hopes to encourage the preservation and reuse of the country’s cultural heritage.