Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the non-military development agreement between the Republic of Cyprus and the Government that applies to the sovereign base areas, what steps he plans to take to ensure that development (a) is linked to the housing needs of the local population, (b) protects sites designated under EU Birds and Habitats Directives and (c) is sustainable and eco-tourism based.

The Non-Military Development (NMD) planning and development zoning process has been undertaken in partnership with the Republic of Cyprus Department of Town Planning and Housing. The local communities within and overlapping the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA), were consulted during the committee stages, when they submitted development requests for their communities, including requests for residential development. Environmentally protected sites that exist in the SBA, designated under SBA Law, have been taken into consideration when developing the proposed zoning. However, there are no protected sites, designated under EU Birds and Habitats Directives, within the SBA.

Development, under the NMD Policy, in relation to tourism and recreation, is discouraged and in some areas prohibited, outside of designated areas/zones, with the purpose of protecting the environment. A Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment and an Environmental Appropriate Assessment were conducted and are currently being considered by the Environment Department of the Republic of Cyprus. The Sovereign Base Areas Administration is now awaiting a written opinion on these environmental matters, before moving to the next stage of the NMD programme.