The government on Monday announced the launch of a fast-track process for the issuance of building licences for certain types of residential units, saying the step would also go some way toward addressing the issue of home ownership.

Presenting the details, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou spoke of a “new, more flexible and more efficient system” cutting back on red tape and reducing to just 40 days the time required for issuing a final building permit.

It applies to single dwellings and to duplex houses designated as ‘low risk’ – defined as developments on registered land parcels or parcels in the process of being registered.

The fast-track process in general got underway last October.

“From now on, it will take considerably less time to get a permit, down to 40 working days in total: 20 days for the town planning permit, plus 20 days for the construction permit,” said the minister.

At the same time, the fast-track process would decongest the district local government organisations (EOA) from pending cases, so that they can focus on enhancing checks on construction.

Applications for a building licence are filed to the EOA through the ‘Ippodamos’ electronic licensing system, by filling out a special form/checklist. The form is filled out by the architect, who undertakes responsibility for the accuracy of the information entered.

If an EOA does not reject an application within the 20-day timeframe, the permit “will be considered as having been granted, and automatically issued via the [Ippodamos] system on the 21st day”.

According to Ioannou, this arrangement concerning single dwellings and duplexes specifically, bring to completion the licensing reforms.

Single dwellings and duplexes comprise about 30 per cent of all applications.

Citing data, the minister said that as of last October, 332 applications were filed. Of these, 242 were processed, and 223 approved, while for various reasons 26 were rejected. For the remaining 83 applications, the 20-day limit has not elapsed yet.

The fast-track process will in the near future get expanded to apply to ‘medium-risk’ developments of up to 12 residences in a row or four-storey buildings with up to 20 apartments and a basement. Here, the permits would be issued within 80 working days. This will start in March.

Complementing the system will be two new concepts – that of ‘self-monitoring’ on the part of the architects, and ‘on-site checks’ carried out by designated building inspectors.

On-site inspections will be carried out across three stages throughout construction.

“These on-site checks ensure constant monitoring of key points of the development, but also timely intervention to pause construction work wherever the terms of the permit are deemed to be violated,” explained the minister.

Meantime, in collaboration with the scientific and technical chamber (Etek), the ministry is drafting the regulations governing the role and jurisdiction of the building inspectors.

During the transitional period up until the regulations are ready and voted through in parliament, Etek would prepare a list of its members who can temporarily act as building inspectors.

Ioannou said also that these reforms will tackle, to some extent, the issue of the low housing stock, “allowing many people, especially young families to get on the home ownership ladder”.

During a meeting held in late January, the Nicosia EOA had complained the ‘Ippodamos’ software system faces persistent issues, including slow processing speeds and architectural deficiencies.

The system was launched in July 2024.