The Grove Spa Resort, Cyprus - Construction Blog

March 11th 2011

2011-03-12T11:58:00.008Z

We've had a lot of clients visiting the last few weeks, especially during the half term holidays. The weather has been very mixed. We've had a LOT of rain, high winds and very cool temperatures on some days and on others, it's been hot enough to strip off and get in the pool. Jonathan made the most of it last week.

Jonathan enjoying one of the giant whirlpools

Jonathan getting some exercise in

One of the whirlpools at night

Jonathan and Jemma playing chess (can you tell they don't really know how to play?)

Images of the Hydrotherapy Pool & Spa

2011-02-16T17:30:00.016Z

Hydrotherapy pool with massage jets

Hydrotherapy pool with Jacuzzi

Spa centre meet and greet area

Chromatherapy relaxation room

One of the seven treatment rooms

The Grove Spa Resort 1st February 2011

2011-02-01T14:47:00.013Z

Night view of the Spa building from the resort

Pool view at night

Main entrance to the Spa building

Reception area

Gymnasium ready for fit-out

Dance / aerobic studio on the first floor of the Spa building

Roof top cafe bar

Roof top cafe bar with mountain views

Deck in front of Spa building

From Spa deck to C and D blocks

Views from G Block

View to B Block from G Block

Grove Spa Resort Blog Update 19th October 2010

2010-10-20T18:19:00.005+01:00

We are delighted to have taken possession of Plot A of The Grove Spa Resort from GCC. It has been a challenging year for everyone involved, given the seismic changes in world economic conditions but we are proud to have delivered a top class scheme. It is looking really excellent now the outside work has been finished and the pools have been filled.

View of Blocks B and G from the poolside

We have had a busy programme of handovers to clients and this continues throughout October and November. The feedback is very positive and clients have been enjoying the serenity and views from the resort when staying overnight.

During the day the site is a hive of activity with contractors finishing the last details, clients taking possession of properties, furniture deliveries and utility companies doing the final sign-off checks.

Plot A from the Spa building

One of the giant Jacuzzis in action

One of the pool technicians demonstrated today how the pool water, which is cleaned without chlorine using an environmentally-friendly process, is cleaner than the municipal tap water and can safely be drunk.

Pools on Plot A

The decking and gardens on Plot B

View of Plot A from Block H

Work continues on Plot B (comprising Blocks C, D, E and F) to the end of the month when all private apartments will be ready, all external communal works completed and GCC hand over this plot. Work will continue on the Spa building, shop, restaurant, green area and roads to the end of the year.

Planting begins on Plot B

Spa reception building

Installation of the decking around the pool in front of C-Block

One of the townhouses in D-Block is now fully furnished and provides a cool retreat from the heat and dust of the building site.

Townhouse

Master Bedroom

Second Bedroom

First client takes possession of property at The Grove Spa Resort

2010-09-15T16:33:00.001+01:00

David Pepper was the first client to take delivery of his apartment on 15th September 2010. David is pictured here in the kitchen of his penthouse in Block A receiving the keys from Joanne Patterson from InvestinCyprus.com Developers Customer Services. David inspected the apartment, transferred his utility accounts and installed all his furniture and window coverings in a jam-packed short trip to the island. He will return in October for a holiday with his family in his new property.

David Pepper receives the keys to his penthouse in Block A from Joanne Patterson

Site Progress Meeting 8th September 2010

2010-09-08T18:19:00.004+01:00

Plot A

The apartments on Plot A, ie those in Blocks A, B, G and H are now finished and fully snagged internally. We are waiting for delivery of the last pieces of expansion joint materials to enable the rest of the communal external area to be completed.

The site was due for handover by the construction company on 1st September but due to a few items still to finish off externally, as well as waiting for the electricity authority to finish the testing and commissioning of the electricity supply to each apartment, we will now take possession of the site on 5th October. Delivery of Plot B (comprising Blocks C, D, E and F) will be on 20th October. This new handover timetable does not affect the delivery of the apartments which are finished and undergoing final snagging ahead of the delivery to clients between 15th September and 15th November.

Kitchen of Block D Townhouse

In the communal external spaces, the Gripstone areas are almost completed and the wooden decking around the pools has begun to be installed.

Installing the wooden decking

All garden areas have now been planted and the artificial grass installed between Blocks A, H, G and B which gives a cool, calm feeling to the resort.

View from ground floor apartment in B block

View of resort from upper floor of Block H

View of Block B

The utility companies have finished the installation of water and electricity connections around the development so the road construction is now underway. With so much messy work going on around the edges of the resort to complete the roads and pathways we are delaying filling the pools until the end of the month.

Laying out the visitor car park next to Block G

Finishing the main car park of the Spa building

We spent time this week with potential operators of the restaurant and supermarket and also continued with the interviews for resort staff. The Spa building continues to shape up well.

Spa building reception

Roof top café bar

View from the gym

Sound proofed ceiling of the dance studio

Dominic and Joanne in the TV room

View of plot B from Spa building

Back of Block H

The underground car parks are finished as are the ramps in and out. The fire shutters will be installed next and the individual car park space markings.

Underground car park entrance

Underground car park exit

Underground car park

The next site meeting will take place on Tuesday 5th October.

Monthly Progress Meeting 3rd August 2010

2010-08-03T17:43:00.002+01:00

The holiday season has well and truly begun - and just as well, as the mercury hit 46 degrees last week in Cyprus with 98% humidity in Larnaca and poor visibility – which is not pleasant when working on a building site. Luckily for the construction workers the site is closed from 7th to 16th August with most businesses across Cyprus taking a full 3 weeks holiday till the end of August.

The team in Liverpool is also taking the opportunity to squeeze in a few days holiday before the handover season begins in September. The office will remain open for the first time this year in the run up to completion but with a reduced staff till the end of the month as we rotate through holidays.

In the final month before completion the last details are being finished across the site.

Across the site

The finishing touches are being made to the external areas with the wooden decking being laid around the pool areas and the pathways being finished off.

Wooden decking is laid around the pools

Central path is laid in front of E block

Finishing the pathways and landscaping

The Spa building in on track with further work done on the reception area with feature tiling and the floor to ceiling glazing in the gym is being installed, providing a great view of the resort while doing a cardio workout.

The glazing in the gym is installed

The work on the public roads surrounding the development has begun. This is great news as this work is often subject to delay in Cyprus as it is generally not within the control of the developer. However the utility companies have started to lay the cables and pipes necessary to connect the development to the main services. Once this work is finished the public pathways surrounding the development will then be completed.

Trenches are dug for utilities beneath the public pathways around the development

Work on the public roads begin

The interior fit out of the hydrotherapy area continues and the mosaic feature wall of the hydrotherapy pool is finished as is most of the tiling in the pool, Jacuzzi, plunge pool and showers. The wooden walls and seating of the sauna have been installed and construction of the barrelled ceiling of the steam room is underway.

The tiling of the hydrotherapy pool is completed

The seating is installed in the sauna

The cold plunge pool – brrr!

The steam room takes shape with a barrelled ceiling to avoid drips

The private apartments are virtually finished and are now being systematically cleaned and snagged prior to the formal handover from the construction company on 1st September. Our own staff will then do another snagging inspection of each property before the owners begin to take possession over the coming months.

Balcony of Apartment in G Block with access to private roof terrace

Private roof terrace on G Block

Constantinos the architect inspects the external staircase between A and H block with Yiannos the site engineer

G Block

The construction site is closed until 16th August then it’s all hands on deck to finish plot A by 1st September and plot B by 30th September. The next progress meeting will be on Tuesday 7th September.

Monthly Progress Meeting 9th July 2010

2010-07-09T17:18:00.000+01:00

Early July saw a short but very busy visit to the island. On site, the construction pace is quickening and a lot of progress is visible. We are on track for completion of construction of Blocks A, B, G & H by 1st September and Blocks C, D, E & F by 30th September.

Construction on site is now entering the final three months, everything is shaping up well and we remain on schedule for delivering the residential units by the end of August. We will then move on to the handover programme between 1st September and 31st October. All owners will receive by email detailed information about the delivery handover timings and process in the next couple of weeks to enable you to plan your trip to Cyprus to take delivery of your property.

Cengiz Dervis

I spent a good couple of days with Cengiz Dervis, our Spa consultant, who was visiting the island meeting with suppliers and viewing the site.

We met with several suppliers for the gym and spa equipment as well as with Elemis who will provide the signature product line for the Spa. Felicity Leahy, the International Business Manager for Elemis, made some excellent suggestions to enhance the use of space which we were swiftly able to incorporate into the interior plan.

The focus of the week was firmly on the operational requirements of the Spa and the central reception building. Claire Chrysostomou, the interior architect, continues to do a fine job supervising the contractors with the build.

The central reception desk takes shape

Artist’s impression of the completed Spa reception area

The hydrotherapy pool area is shaping up well with the huge mosaic back wall is now installed.

Given the style revisions made to the Spa since the launch of the development we have some new artist’s impressions showing how the finished area will look.

Hydrotherapy area with Jacuzzi, bubble beds, massage jets, sauna, steam room and plunge pool

Hydrotherapy pool and relaxation area

The Relaxation Room

Artist’s impression of one of the seven treatment rooms

The show house in D-block is now completed and used as a cool, calm meeting venue at the heart of the hot dusty chaos of the building site. Watch this space for the latest interior photos to follow.

Externally, there has been a lot of visible progress. The palm trees have been lifted into place on plot A and the work on the surfaces then began. Crazy paving defines the pathways with stone grip in the communal areas and wooden decking around the pools and whirlpools.

Manoeuvring the palm trees into position

Lifting and planting

Pouring concrete for the pathways

Creating the pathways

The steel girders for the roof terrace pergolas have been lifted into place and the white wood cross beams installed. To protect the visual integrity of the roof line and conceal the solar panels we have fitted additional mesh panels to the front of some of the blocks.

Painting B Block

Painting D block pergolas

The main contractor GCC and all their sub-contractors continue to do an excellent job of delivering top quality and keeping the project delivery almost on time, despite some severe weather challenges earlier in the year.

Christos and Panicos levelling the visitor car park

The 3 Kings of GCC: Thelis,Site Supervisor; Nick, Project Manager; and Yiannos, Site Engineer

The team in Liverpool has been speaking with all clients to keep you abreast of progress and book your delivery and handover appointments in Cyprus. Also, everyone has received their furniture packs with indoor and outdoor collections. Your orders have been processed to ensure timely delivery to coincide with the handovers starting in mid September. If you have not already booked your delivery and handover appointment with us, please call Jemma on 0151 243 5420 as soon as possible.

The next on-site progress meeting will be Tuesday 3rd August.

Monthly Progress Meeting 8th June 2010

2010-06-21T18:33:00.005+01:00

With only 3 months to go to completion of construction, the site is beginning to look more finished.

Panorama of E & F Blocks

Panorama of B and G Blocks

Rear of the Spa building looking into the resort

Externally, the area around the children’s pool has been concreted and waterproofed in preparation for the surface layer and the 4 outdoor pools have been waterproofed and the mosaic tiles have been laid. The outdoor Jacuzzis are enormous - each one seats 20 people in comfort.

Waterproofing of the pool area surround

Tiling the main swimming pools

Tiling the children’s pool

Trying out the Jacuzzi for size

Staircases accessing the private roof terraces

The staircases giving access to the private roof top terraces have been installed and the huge pergolas on the roof terraces are going in, with steel supports and white wood cross beams.

Block B private roof terrace

Inside the apartments the fit out continues of the kitchens, woodwork and lighting.

Some apartments are especially adapted for disabled access with larger doorways and general space plus wet-rooms with the appropriate grab rails.

G block wet room for disabled access taking shape

One of the large private store rooms dedicated to each apartment

The secure basement car park with direct lift access to most apartments is almost complete. The basement also houses the private storage rooms allocated to each apartment - a major advantage of the apartments at The Grove Spa Resort. These are very large and are ideal for housing bicycles, water sports equipment, blankets out of season, extra furniture or all your personal effects whilst renting out your apartment.

The external pathways are becoming defined and the planting areas are shaping up. The palm trees will be planted this week while there is still access for the heavy lifting gear required to get them into place. Thereafter, the communal garden areas will be finished with the top surface, including stone grip, crazy paving and wooden decking and the planting will then be completed in the flower beds.

Communal area between Blocks A & B and G & H

Pathway from A & H Blocks to centre of resort

Building the boundary wall in front of the Spa building

Westerly view from D Block

The open air roof top lounge bar today

Southerly view from the lounge bar

How the finished roof top bar will look

In the meantime, work continues on fitting the interior of the Spa, with the changing rooms taking shape, the shower cubicles and feature lighting being installed. The hydrotherapy area is currently scaffolded to facilitate completion of the ceilings before progressing to tiling.

The Spa building reception desk area in June 2010

An artist’s impression of the finished Spa reception building

Hydrotherapy area changing rooms

Changing room showers

As completion draws near, we will be contacting you very soon to arrange your handover trip to Cyprus. Properties in blocks A, B, G and H will be handed over to clients throughout September and properties in blocks C, D, E and F in October. You should plan to spend 4-5 days in Cyprus to complete the handover formalities and get your property ready to live in.

The furniture pack was issued a couple of weeks ago and the orders are now due. If you haven’t already sent in your order or if you have any questions, please contact Joanne Patterson on 00 357 99 728 288 or Jonathan Fairhurst on 0151 243 5421.

The next progress meeting is planned for Tuesday 6th July 2010

Site pictures 28th May 2010

2010-06-03T14:29:00.004+01:00

Through the round window to B & G block

G Block across the pool

From A001 to B Block

Rear of C Block

Rear of B Block

C & D blocks with skylights to hydrotherapy centre

View from the front of the Gym

Laying the coping stones in the children's Pool

Secure car park and private storage rooms under the site

Preparing the installation of the back windows in the gym

Claire Chrysostomou discusses Spa interior plans

Spa Reception Area

First floor dance studio

Top floor open air café bar

Jacuzzi in the hydrotherapy pool

Hydrotherapy pool

B Block Roof Terrace

Installation of the pergolas on B Block roof terraces

Kitchen of townhouse

Townhouse living room

Site Progress Meeting 4th May 2010

2010-05-28T15:18:00.013+01:00

Summer has finally arrived and we’ve had several weeks of really great sunny weather, although the typical May rain storms have put in a couple of appearances too.

Blocks C, F, G and the Spa building

View to Block E

Installing the external staircase of Block F

New lift shaft between Blocks A & H

Waterproofing the planting beds of the townhouses

Decorating

Part of the completion process will be furnishing your new property and Jonathan has been hard at work with the furniture suppliers getting the show house fully finished and furnished as well as checking the sizes in situ of all the furniture items on offer and photographing them for the furniture pack. You will receive this furniture pack by Friday 4th June and you will need to place your order by Monday 21st June to ensure delivery for the handover.

Furniture options in black purple & walnut

White dining set in townhouse kitchen

The furniture pack offers a full range of colours and includes everything you need to instantly occupy or let your property, including kitchenware, crockery, cutlery, glassware, electrical items and garden furniture in addition to the usual internal furniture and also décor accessories.

In the apartments, installation of the kitchens, granite worktops and white goods continues and the snagging process has begun with Joanne checking the quality and finishing of all construction work and installations as they are completed. This means there should be minimal snagging work to be done on handover and your property will be up and running very quickly.

Fitting out the Kitchens

The rooftop gardens are being finished off with food preparation and storage areas, a sink and provision for rooftop hot tubs. These extremely spacious areas offer privacy, peace and quiet and the ultimate barbecue venue.

D-block rooftop garden

B-block rooftop garden

G block balconies

Construction on the Spa and reception building remains behind schedule but the internal divisions in the basement have been completed so the layout of the treatment, changing and relaxation rooms is now apparent. The hydrotherapy and the cold plunge pool have been waterproofed and the basic structures for the sauna and steam room are in place. It’s now clear how light, airy and relaxing the hydrotherapy area will be.

Hydrotherapy pool waterproofed

The relaxation room in the Spa

Dance studio and rooftop bar area on the first floor of the Spa building

Installation of the walls of the TV room

Gym Layout

Waterproofing the children’s pool

D-block, children’s pool and palm tree planters

Casting the palm tree planters

Palm tree plant pots

The frame for the second shop has been completed and work is starting on the interior.

Second shop frame

Supermarket

Licence granted for Larnaca Golf Course in Tersefanou

2010-05-19T16:57:00.002+01:00

The MedGolf Group has been issued with the town planning permit for construction of the new PGA-standard golf course in Tersefanou, Larnaca District. MedGolf's press release (click here for the full text) says:

"The international quality 18-hole par 71 golf course, measuring 5,560 metres / 6,080 yards together with its supplementary buildings, covers over 597,000 m2 in surface area. The course, designed by leading golf course architects European Golf Design, will be built to international standards and will provide an enjoyable challenge to all levels of golfers. The project will also boast Cyprus’ only PGA branded facility at the PGA National Golf Academy® which will provide state of the art technologies and class leading instruction and practice facilities to help develop golf and golfers in Cyprus. Both the golf course and the PGA National Golf Academy® will be managed by PGA Golf Management Ltd."

The construction will start within the coming months with completion scheduled for 30 months time. This is great news for the Larnaca District and for owners and holidaymakers at The Grove Spa Resort as the new golf course is a 10 minute drive from Mazotos.

Cyprus welcomes $150m Qatari Diar deal

2010-04-29T07:40:00.005+01:00

Developers have welcomed Qatari Diar’s decision to invest millions of dollars in a mixed-use project in Cyprus.

The $150 million government joint venture with Qatar’s property investment fund is the latest scheme to cash in on the growing Middle East tourism market – following moves by several Cypriot developers targeting buyers from the region.

“This investment is obviously good news,” said Simos Similides, sales director of Pafilia. “Cyprus is becoming a hub for financial, services and property investment, providing a bridge between Europe and the Middle East.”

“A large number of investment and pension funds are showing interest in investing in Cyprus and direct flights from the Middle East to Cyprus are increasing, with new agreements being signed and existing services being expanded.”

Qatari Diar’s CEO, Mohmmed bin Ali Hedfa, said Cyprus had not been as hard-hit by the recession as other countries. "We believe in the economy of Cyprus," he said.

The project in Nicosia will include apartments, offices, a shopping mall and five-star hotel and the first phase will take 30 months to complete.

Source: OPP

Monthly Progress Meeting 9th March 2010

2010-04-01T16:38:00.006+01:00

The long run of wet weather has finally broken and spring has arrived with consistent sunshine and daily temperatures in the low 20s but warming up fast. However, sandstorms in Egypt caused murky conditions and reduced visibility across the island. There’s never a dull moment with Cyprus weather in the spring.

Main entrance of the reception building

Now the basement has dried out and the forecast is fair, work began on laying out the electrical installations on the floor of the Spa building. Claire Chrysostomou, the interior architect, supervised the work personally, ensuring close attention to detail. Installations also continued in the ground floor gym, the first floor dance studio and in the roof-top café bar.

Claire & Christos check the plans for the electrical installations at the Spa

Laying the electrical cables

Floor layout in the Spa

Electromechanical installations in the dance studio

The beginnings of the cold plunge pool

Inside the gym space

The LED lighting above the feature ceiling has been installed in the apartments providing a subtle level of mood lighting. Having checked all the electrical switches in the sample apartments we have changed many of these for either ergonomic or aesthetic reasons and those changes will now be rolled out across the rest of the development. We have also installed key card controllers which makes managing energy bills much easier for clients renting out apartments on short-term lets.

Mood lighting in the living room

Key card energy controller

The bathrooms in the sample apartments are now all but completed

Bathroom in C-block in beige tiles

Bathroom in Townhouse in light grey tiles

En-Suite Shower Room in Townhouse

Delivery of the residential units is still on track but the Spa building is currently showing an over-run due to the bad weather. But we remain confident of catching up this time for a November opening. Most of the work on the site is now internal. All joinery work (kitchens, internal doors and wardrobes) is progressing well with 1 block being finished every 2 weeks. Then follows the installation of the granite worktops, splash-backs and additional tiling. Fitting of the windows also continues with 1 block per week being handed over from the aluminium supplier.

B-block kitchen in Ash

Kitchen in White

Kitchen sink

D-block under stairs wardrobes in White

A & B Blocks from the western side

Children’s pool between Blocks E & D with supermarket in background

Main pool between Blocks B & G

Blocks D, C, E & F

Temporary access to H Block

Externally, the site boundary walls at the back of C and D-blocks have been completed and work on the outdoor pools will begin shortly.

Pouring concrete for the boundary walls

Giorgos & Lellos pouring concrete

Sewage treatment plants

As the village of Mazotos is not yet connected to the sewage mains, we are constructing two sewage treatment plants on site which will function until we are connected to the mains, currently scheduled for 5 years time.

Most of you know Jemma Watchman from the Liverpool office and she visited the site to fully familiarise herself with each client’s apartment ahead of the handover process that will begin on construction completion from August. Dominic was also on site and again remarked on the speed and quality of the delivery from GCC.

Jemma orientates herself onsite

Dominic and Nicos Zachariou enjoy the somewhat misty view from A block

Constantinos Constanti (the architect) and Tatiana Zachariou (the clerk of works)

Work will cease on site for a week from 31st March to 7th April to celebrate Greek Orthodox Easter which is slightly extended this year with an extra bank holiday on 1st April. The next site meeting will be 4th May.

We wish all our clients, consultants, contractors and suppliers a very Happy Easter!

Monthly Progress Meeting 9th February 2010

2010-02-19T09:48:00.004Z

The wettest January for many years saw 146% of the usual rainfall for the month falling on the island, continuing the rainy trend of the last 3 months and causing some further delays to the construction programme.

A very green view from A-block Feb 2010

Road frontage with restaurant, shops & E-block

The programme for completion of the Spa and reception building is now delayed by 10 weeks due to the prolonged flooding of the basement area. We are confident however that we will catch up this time once the weather dries up and the building is sealed with windows and doors to allow the internal floor fit out to begin, although the electro-mechanical work on the ceiling has continued.

Spa electromechanical installations

Work on the sample apartments continued with the installation of the doors and windows and the finishing of the carpentry work for the kitchens, wardrobes and internal doors as well as the tiling in the bathrooms.

Apartment entrance door

C-Block bedroom windows

The marble stairs have been installed in the sample town house in a dark grey to complement the light grey tiling of the floors. A different colour will be used for those houses with cream tile work.

Marble stairs in town house

The spirit level was much in evidence as the tiling was laid on the private verandas and the back-breaking plastering work continued on C-block.

Laying the veranda tiles of C block

C-block external plastering

The work on installing the sewage treatment plant started with digging a very big hole...

One big hole!

The shops are now at first floor level, ie full height and it's possible to see the skeleton of the whole resort.

Roof of Supermarket

View of E-block and children's pool from D-block

Outside, the railings for the walkways and balconies are being installed and the stonework around the pillars has started to be affixed.

Balcony railings

We are testing a pallette of earthen and natural stone colours for the Graffiato coating that will be applied to all external walls.

Stonework and Graffiato colours

Stonework

We finalised the materials and colour choices for the external walkways, sitting and poolside areas and have added some points of interest in hidden corners including a giant chess & draughts board and large planters with colour and textural variety.

Jon is working with the landscape designer Christoforos Moniatis to flesh out options for each private garden and Joanne will be contacting you shortly to discuss your choices if you have a ground floor property.

Constantinos the Architect (L) and Christoforos the Landscape Designer (R)

The furniture suppliers have also been on site this week measuring up to ensure that the furniture fits perfectly. We will have a great range of options available including some fabulous outdoor furniture to make the most of the huge penthouse roof terraces. We will be sending out the furniture pack information at the end of March for ordering by May.

Jon the man behind the lens

Jonathan & Stephanie at site entrance

Buddy the Brittany attended the site regularly in his role as honorary site supervisor.

Buddy surveying the site

The next progress meeting is on Tuesday 9th March.

Update 22 January 2010

2010-02-01T12:58:00.002Z

Having had extended sunshine over the festive break and right up to mid-January, the extreme weather returned with a vengeance with yet more torrential rain, hail and electrical storms. The site is now a mudbath and much of the external work has been delayed although the work inside the residential units can continue.

22 Jan 2010 monsoon rains

Site mudbath 22 Jan 2010

The ceramic floor tiles have now been laid in the four sample apartments and the bathrooms are in the process are being finished with tiling, the installation of the vanity sink unit and the wall mirrors.

Kitchen in Ash 22 Jan 2010

Kitchen in Cherry 22 Jan 2010

Kitchen in Oak 22 Jan 2010

The carpentry work has also been installed this week in the sample apartments and kitchens in ash, cherry and oak have been fitted as well as wardrobes and internal doors in white, wenge and oak. We are awaiting the arrival of the windows to seal the apartments and then the white goods, sinks and marble worktops will be installed to complete the kitchens.

Bathroom tiles in white

Wardrobes in cream

Wardrobes in Oak 22 Jan 2010

Wardrobes in Wenge 22 Jan 2010

Ariel view of The Grove Spa Resort Jan 2010

Now that the heavy construction work has been completed in the centre of the resort and access is no longer needed for heavy equipment we have been able to start the foundations for the shops that front the main road. The lifts are being installed in the restaurant and the residential blocks.

Jan 19 2010 foundations for the shops

Jan 19 2010 Foundations of shop 1

The electromechanical fit-out is well underway in the basement of the Spa with installation of the air conditioning and ducting. The dry wall partitioning has been delayed due to the site flooding but will commence as soon as dry weather arrives and the basement dries out.

Hydrotherapy pool from skylight Jan 19 2010

I spent more time with the landscape architect finalising designs for the common areas as well as putting together options for the private gardens and choosing the plants. We also increased the area for the tennis court and looked at extra leisure facilities we can put into the common areas.

Block B on left and G on the right

Jan 19 2010 Restaurant & Townhouses

Jan 19 2010 Site overview C, G, Spa & F blocks

Jan 19 2010 Site overview from Restaurant to G-block

Jan 19 2010 site overview plot B to A

Jan 19 2010 site overview

Jan 19 2010 Townhouse

Jan 19 2010 View from restaurant

Jan 19 2010 View west of development

New Restaurant Jan 19 2010

Old restaurant Jan 19 2010

The next progress meeting will be on Tuesday 9th February 2010.

Monthly Progress Meeting 8th December 2009

2009-12-10T15:28:00.001Z

The unseasonal weather continued in Cyprus in early December with more than 10 days of electrical storms and torrential rain. Although great for topping up the island's dams, the deluges have caused damage to roads, properties and beaches across the island. Konnos Bay, a particularly beautiful beach at Cape Greco in the south east of the island suffered a landslide and the beach has effectively been washed away. The authorities are working hard to restore this and other beaches for the summer season.

Flooded swimming pools

B-block

F-block

The extremely heavy rain has slowed down some of the external work at The Grove Spa Resort site due to flooding although much of the progress is now indoors. The ceramics for the floors and walls of the sample apartments have arrived and are now being laid. On the blocks where construction is completed the solar panels and water tanks are being installed.

H-block

The basement slab between Blocks D & E has now been closed up and the basement finished. The new children's pool has been laid out in front of D-block and blocks A & H have completed the skeleton and brickwork.

Townhouses & childrens' pool

The electro-mechanical work is now underway in the Spa building and we're ready to start the screeds for the floors and the dry walling to divide up the space into the treatment and changing rooms and communal space. Work continued with Claire Chrysostomou, the interior architect, on the specifications for the internal fit-out of the Spa, gym and reception.

Grove Spa Building

Gym & reception space

Site overview with block C & Spa building in foreground

G-block

Construction will stop over for 10 days over the festive season and resume again in January. There is no official progress meeting in January but I will be there during the month to report as usual.

Monthly Progress Meeting 3rd November 2009

2009-11-20T11:47:00.006Z

View of resort from restaurant

We've had some torrential rain and spectacular electrical storms in Cyprus the last 2 weeks of October and into early November. The rain is unusual as October is usually the finest month for weather of the whole year. Dominic was in Cyprus on a family holiday and he took the opportunity to join us for the Monthly Progress Meeting on 3rd November. He was surprised, again, at the speed with which The Grove Spa Resort is taking shape, having not visited the site for 3 months.

C Block from F Block

Restaurant ground floor

Space for utilities on the roof

Spa & block C

D-block & restaurant with basement slab under construction

G block

Blocks B and G are substantially ahead of programme, Blocks C, D and E are on schedule and we are still catching up on the slight delay to Blocks A and H as well as the general pool area. The roof of C-block has now been tiled with a large space in the middle to house the hot water systems and air conditioning compressors, minimising the visual impact. The slab roof of the basement between blocks D and E is almost closed up, giving a much better idea of the finished look of that area. GCC is delaying finishing the slab by a few days as a group of civil engineering students is visiting the site to see how this kind of construction happens in practice.

E & F-bock & basement slab Nov 3 2009

E block & basement

Roof garden screed prepped for tiles

Examining the roof line

Consultant & contractor inspection

There are changes to the plans every time we visit and this time we made a decision to combine the space of the TV room and games room in the basement to make a much bigger and more flexible space. This means it can also be used as a meeting or seminar room for visiting groups as well as host a much bigger audience for those all-important international sports matches. Within the apartments we changed the halogen downlighters in the living / dining rooms to LED strip lights that will be located above the feature ceiling to provide much more environmentally-friendly mood lighting.

LED lights for living room recessed ceiling

For the outdoors, we worked on the tennis court and yoga platform designs and we are now working with the owner of the development next door to provide significantly improved amenities for the whole village. Instead of us both building a children's playground on the green area, we are looking at how we can best use the combined space together.

Dominic & Claire the interior designer

Jonathan and Joanne spent a lot of time working on furniture options, both for owners and for the common areas, such as the Spa, reception and rooftop bar and Jon and I spent many hours with Claire Chrysostomou, the interior designer, finalising every detail of the finishes for the Spa, including the design features of the hydrotherapy area and the equipment for the reception area.

Hydrotherapy Pool

Buddy

An interesting development for me personally was my adoption of Buddy, the Brittany Spaniel. Or maybe I should say his adoption of me. Found bedraggled under a hedge after a particularly dramatic storm and left unclaimed for 2 weeks, I have now adopted him and am working on getting his pet passport to bring him back to UK next summer. What a gorgeous little fellow he is!

While I have returned to the gales and deluges of a British winter, Jonathan remains in Cyprus for a week of sunshine, DIY and sprucing up of his personal properties, preparing them for the winter. The final Progress Meeting of the year will be on 11th December.

Monthly Progress Meeting 6th October 2009

2009-10-12T16:36:00.003+01:00

The Grove Spa Resort

Blocks B, C, E, F and G are all ahead of schedule with the screed laid ready to start tiling.

View from F001

Blocks A and H are springing up quickly, catching up on the initial delay.

Front of Block A

The reception building is now at first floor level and the skylights from the ground floor level into the hydrotherapy area of the basement have been punched through.

Skylights into Hydrotherapy Pool

Work continues on the basement and machine room areas of the outdoor pools and the Jacuzzis.

Jacuzzi

We have now received all client choices for ceramic tiles and granite as well as the kitchens, wardrobes and internal doors and the 4 sample apartments are being prepared. Thanks to everyone for returning your choices on time.

3 Floors of D Block

We are spending a lot of time with the interior designer Claire Chrysostomou on the interiors of the Spa building, particularly in the hydrotherapy area with the sauna, steam room and multiple wet areas. New 3D images of these areas will be ready shortly.

Hydrotherapy Pool Structure

B Block Roof Gardens

Regards

Stephanie

Latest panoramic images of The Grove Spa Resort

2009-09-16T16:05:00.003+01:00

Plot A Panorama

Plot B Panorama

Monthly Progress Meeting 8th September 2009

2009-09-11T12:19:00.001+01:00

Jonathan and I have spent the last two weeks back in Cyprus as everyone gets back to work after the August holidays. The monthly progress meeting with the contractors and consultants on 8th September showed that, despite the 3-week shutdown, construction is still racing on. The screed is going down in Blocks B, C, D & E now that the electrics and plumbing is all completed. Blocks F and G are at plastering stage and A & H are catching up on the schedule. The outside pool areas are shaping up well now that the roof of the basement is being cast. The individual roof gardens of the penthouse apartments are now in place and the barbecues, food preparation and storage facilities are being built.

Pool outline & Block F

Block G from top of Block B

Ground Floor Block C across to Block F

The hydrotherapy pool in the basement has been cast and we’re working with the interior designer on the finishes for the pool and Spa areas as well as the main reception building, roof top bar and dance studio. The new 3D images of the Spa are shaping up nicely and will be posted here on the blog as soon as they are ready.

Block B Roof Garden

View from Gym across pool to C & D Blocks

Jacuzzi & Pool between blocks B & G

Jonathan has been hard at work all through August (no holiday for him!) finalising the selections for the interior fittings. Every client has received a pack showing the choice of kitchens, wardrobes and doors for personalising the properties and the second pack showing the choice of ceramic tiles and granite will be issued early next week. The four sample apartments are on track to be ready at the beginning of next month.

Jonathan and Joanne discussing kitchen choices with clients, even while taking a breather in the garden of the Nicosia office

With the basement roof closing up it’s time to look again at the landscaping plans and we are on site with the landscaping designers later this week to check that the planting plan still looks good now that we can see the levels for real. The gardens are a key element of the scheme and will create shade, colour and scent all year round. To allow the plants time to establish, we will begin the planting as soon as the ground floor level is finished.

Checking the roof gardens

Don’t forget to send your interior choices to Jonathan by the end of next week. If you wish to discuss the selections, please call Jonathan on +44 (0)151 244 5443 or Joanne on +357 99 418 025.

Stephanie

Site Visits for Owners and Buyers

2009-07-20T11:50:00.001+01:00

If you would like to visit the site of The Grove Spa Resort, please call Jonathan in the Liverpool office on +44 151 244 5443 or Joanne in Cyprus on +357 99 418025 to book an appointment ahead of time. We will be very happy to show you around. You will not be permitted access to the site unless you are accompanied by a member of our staff. Although we do have hard hats and a supply of safety shoes we cannot cater for all shoe sizes so you are advised to wear very stout shoes. You will not be permitted onto the site with sandals, flip flops or open-toed shoes.

The construction site will be closed between 1^st and 24^th August and the InvestinCyprus.com Developers offices in both Cyprus and Liverpool will be closed between 8^th and 24^th August. It’s simply too hot! ( - at least we hope it will be in Liverpool!)

Monthly Progress Meeting 7th July 09

2009-07-19T11:49:00.000+01:00

On a swelteringly hot 7th July day with unusually high humidity, Jonathan and I attended the final monthly progress meeting before the summer shut down. Lead by Constantinos the architect, we heard encouraging reports from the main contractor as well as all the consultants and other sub-contractors. Blocks B, C and E are racing ahead and are one month ahead of schedule. We are also ahead on blocks D, F and G which means we can focus more attention on blocks A & H which are currently running slightly behind schedule. We transferred from the onsite meeting room to the sample apartments to check progress there. Having laid out the electrics and water supply in the kitchens and looked in detail at these in the 4 sample apartments, we decided to change the design of two types of the kitchens to make them more ergonomic.

Plot B Panorama to blocks C & D

Blocks B & G with main pool

In Nicosia later that week we met with the pools supplier and finessed the details of the Hydrotherapy Suite ensuring that the eventual experience of using that facility will be exceptionally relaxing and therapeutic. We have a large pool with multiple jets both in and out of the water, bubble beds, Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna and cold plunge pool. This will perfectly complement the therapist treatments available and provide the ideal relaxation after a tough session in the gym or the dance studio.

Plot A Panorama

Constantinos & Stephanie with the electrical contractors

Blocks B & G with main pool

Spa interior brickwork

Jonathan and I spent a lot of time with the many suppliers of kitchens, wardrobes, windows, tiles and bathroom fittings finalising the selections. We are now preparing the After-Sales Choices pack for buyers and this will be sent out shortly so buyers can order colours and fixtures and fittings. So look out for this pack over the summer.

Hydrotherapy pool structure

Technical Meetings 23rd and 29th June 2009

2009-07-18T11:47:00.000+01:00

Construction is moving on rapidly and we have now selected four properties which will be fully finished in the next few weeks with all fixtures and fittings. This means we can assess and refine the positioning of all electrical fittings, kitchens, wardrobes and ceramics. This week we spent time with the electrical contractors laying out all the electrical work in these four units.

Waffles on basement roof plot A

Laying out sample apartments with electrical contractors

Across the site now, everything is taking shape. Most of the blocks now have a fully erected skeleton and blocks B, C, D and G have almost finished all the brickwork. The foundations for the restaurant have been laid and we’ve been working with the swimming pool suppliers on laying out the indoor hydrotherapy pool. The filters and pumps are already in place. The main reception and Spa building has reached ground floor level and the internal layout of the Spa facilities in the basement is done, as are the very large personal storerooms.

Foundations for Restaurant

Reception Building and block F

Brickwork

Fitting filters to hydrotherapy pool

Busy busy busy!

The Grove Spa Resort Construction Update 15 June 2009

2009-06-15T11:15:00.010+01:00

I attended the monthly site meeting in Cyprus last week and can confirm that construction at site is going extremely well.

Stephanie Fairhurst attends these meetings every month which brings together the prime contractor, expert electrical and mechanical engineering consultants, sub-contractors where appropriate all under the chairmanship of the architect.

The latest pictures from the site are below:

My Latest Visit To The Grove Spa Resort Site - Dominic Farrell

2009-05-26T09:51:00.007+01:00

I was in Cyprus last week where the temperatures were 30C with clear skies on most days. I went to the Grove Spa Resort site meeting and found the progress made by GCC to be excellent. The scheme is now beginning to take shape as evidenced by the pictures below.

Also, our decision to purchase the addtional plot of land at Christmas 2008 next to D Block has been fully justified and rewarded as the layout looks fantastic.

Regards

Dominic Farrell

Incredible Progress At The Grove Spa Resort - 12th May 2009

2009-05-20T07:28:00.008+01:00

Progress 12th May 2009

Construction is moving ahead very rapidly at The Grove Spa Resort with swarms of workmen busy on site. The basements of residential blocks B, C, D and G are completed and construction has moved up to the ground floor level. The forest of reinforced steel and non-stop pouring of concrete is shaping the rest of the underground level, including the supports for the ground level pools and the layout of the Spa facilities.

The rapid pace of construction and large scale of the project requires top quality supervision and control and this is the team from GCC responsible for keeping the site under control and on time: From left to right: the site foremen Aristotellis Aristotelous and Christos Ioannou; the Project Manager Nick Iacovou and the project engineers Yiannis Stephanides and Nicos Zachariou.

Construction Update 2 - 24 April 2009

2009-04-24T13:16:00.003+01:00

Blocks G and B

Basement of Blocks D and C

The Grove Spa Resort Construction Update - 24 April 2009

2009-04-24T13:05:00.006+01:00

Basement of C Block
Basement of B Block Basement of the Health Spa

Latest Construction Site Photos - 14 April 2009

2009-04-14T22:04:00.004+01:00

The Grove Spa Resort, Cyprus - Latest Construction Update 8 April 09

2009-04-08T10:01:00.009+01:00

I would like to thank the many homebuyers and investors at The Grove Spa Resort who have expressed their appreciation and support for the construction blog.

The photographs below were taken this week and show remarkable progress, particularly given the severe weather conditions recently.

Dominic Farrell

Further Update From The Grove Spa Resort Construction Site

2009-03-20T12:35:00.010Z

We have a mass of photographs coming through from the Grove Spa Resort site as our intrepid operations manager, Jonathan Fairhurst, known in the company as "Nanook of the North" has been on-site all week.

This is his latest report today:

As you'll see there is a huge amount of activity today on both plots. The membrane has been laid under the Spa building and Blocks E & F and GCC were in the process of pouring the concrete on top.

The temporary wooden boundaries to the rear of Blocks C & D were also being erected. The concrete base for the lifts had been delivered and were being manoeuvred into position. On Plot A, the initial concrete base had been completed and the steel reinforcement was being constructed - this was mostly done for Block B.

Have a great weekend

Dominic Farrell

The Grove Spa Resort, Mazotos, Latest News

2009-03-18T14:49:00.006Z

The latest news from the Construction site is:

The concrete slab has been laid down for B Block
The footings for the lift shafts have been excavated
The reinforced steel has arrived ready to be used
The footings for the spa hydro therapy pool is also being dug

The Grove Spa Resort, Cyprus - Latest Construction Update 12th March 2009

2009-03-12T13:21:00.014Z

We've had a delay to the construction due to the severe weather in Cyprus, with torrential rain for the past 4 weeks or so and subsequent "wash-out" on site.

However, taking a strategic view of events the rain has been fantastic for the dams and gardens and has been a very postive event for the island as a whole. GCC are back on site and laying the membrane today in preparation for the slab.

I was in Cyprus last week for the monthly on-site "Progress Meeting" which is led by our architect, Constantinos. I was very impressed with the conduct of the meeting and the clear level of expertise we have in the team of consultants and main contractor.

Thanks for the very postive comments we have recieved about the value of this construction blog - much appreciated.

Please find some update photos taken on the site today:

Best wishes

Dominic Farrell

Investors Plan Ahead For Their Grove Spa Rentals

2009-02-17T15:41:00.005Z

This is an e-mail from Richard Smith, an investor in The Grove Spa Resort, who gave permission for us to publish it here. From experience, those investors who think well ahead of completion about their rentals and property management are very successful:

"Last month I had a chat with an independent travel agent (a friend recommended him to me). The idea was to advertise our UK holiday let, however, we got onto the subject of Cyprus and I told him about our investments in The Grove Spa Resort, Mazotos.

He knows Cyprus well and has many contacts in the travel industry. He informed me that a number of them would be interested in taking a block booking of 10 weeks for themselves to rent out to their clients. (The Larnaca area has very few quality properties and none that will compare to the Grove Spa Resort once completed).

I am currently producing a marketing pack so that I can set up a meeting with the companies in question. If all goes well I will be buying more properties there!"

InvestinCyprus.com Developers Operations Manager Beats The Snow!

2009-02-13T11:39:00.004Z

The weather has been particularly bad in the UK recently and we have all had to improvise in order to get into the office. Jon, operations manager at InvestinCyprus.com Developers, did particularly well.

A bit different from Cyprus!

Construction Meeting Today And Appointment Of Sub-Contractors

2009-02-12T10:40:00.004Z

GCC has been quick off the mark since their appointment as the prime contractor for the main construction of The Grove Spa Resort.

Earlier this week the management team were on site with the topographers and today the sub-contractors will be appointed at a meeting in Larnaca.

PRESS RELEASE: Appointment Of General Constructions Company Ltd (GCC) As Prime Contractor For The Grove Spa Resort, Cyprus

2009-02-10T09:00:00.002Z

PRESS RELEASE The Grove Spa Resort, Cyprus – Appointment of General Constructions Company Ltd (GCC) as Prime Contractor.

InvestinCyprus.com Developers has appointed the General Constructions Company (GCC) as the prime contractor for its landmark 5 Star mixed-use scheme, The Grove Spa Resort in Mazotos, Cyprus.

GCC was founded in 1947 and is one of the leading construction companies in Cyprus with its head office in Nicosia.

GCC has constructed many prestigious projects in Cyprus, including: The Annabelle 5 Star Hotel in Paphos, Ayia Napa Water Park, IKEA, and The Embassy of The People’s Republic of China to name a few.

The company has also undertaken large projects for the Cyprus government and UK Ministry of Defence.

Further, the company has successfully operated in Saudi Arabia for over 30 years and is now establishing a strong presence in Bahrain.

The motto of GCC is “Quality First” and the company this week celebrates its 62nd year of delivering quality construction projects.

Commenting on the appointment of GCC, Stephanie Fairhurst, Managing Director of InvestinCyprus.com Developers said,

“ The appointment of GCC as our main contractor shows our commitment to delivering a top quality resort by employing only the very best professionals for this outstanding project. GCC has a strong reputation for excellence and professionalism and we are delighted to be working together.”

Phase 1 of the build of The Grove Spa Resort was completed at Christmas before the purchase of an additional plot of land to add further facilities to the scheme.

The revised plans have now been approved by the authorities and Phase 2 of the construction begins this week.

InvestinCyprus.com Developers Director Dominic Farrell says:

“We couldn’t refuse the opportunity to purchase an additional plot of land adjacent to the scheme and buyers have been extremely pleased with the extra value the enhanced facilities have provided.”

Mr Farrell continues, “Testament to the appeal of The Grove Spa Resort is that, even in the present climate, we still have strong interest from buyers and continue to make sales, despite having sold 80% of the scheme before we started construction.”

Notes for Editors:

The Grove Spa Resort in Mazotos, Cyprus is a 5 star mixed-use scheme due for completion in 2010.

In addition to 128 residential units, there is a restaurant, supermarket, on-site rental and resale office, concierge service, health spa, gymnasium, dance studio, hydrotherapy pool, 3 outdoor pools, tennis court, sports TV room, children’s play area and secure underground parking and storage units.

There has been worldwide interest in this project with buyers from UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Poland, Malaysia, Dubai, Bahrain, Sweden, Italy, India, South Africa, Singapore and Azerbaijan.

For further information and interviews please contact Dominic Farrell on +44 (0) 151 244 5432

Property Buyers Delighted As Final Approval Is Given For 14 New Golf Courses In Cyprus

2009-02-09T12:00:00.004Z

The Cyprus government has finally approved the creation of 14 new golf courses, which will bring the total number on the island to 17. The decision was finalised at a cabinet meeting last Thursday (5th February 2009).

Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said the actual decision had been taken by the previous government.

“It was taken for the purpose of strengthening the tourism product in Cyprus and boosting economic activity,” he said.

Dominic Farrell, director of InvestinCyprus.com Developers, the company behind the much acclaimed Grove Spa Resort in Mazotos says:

“This is excellent news for homebuyers and investors alike and will provide a substantial boost to rental demand, re-sales and economic activity in general.

Additionally, seasonality will be reduced in areas surrounding courses as the winter months in Cyprus are ideal for playing golf. Combined with the increase in low cost flights from airlines such as easyJet, we will see a sharp increase in visitors to the island.

Owners of high quality properties, such as The Grove Spa Resort and Palm Spa Resort, with all-year-round facilities will benefit most.”

For an article by Jet-to-Let Magazine on the benefits of investing near golf courses click here

Cyprus Property - Comments By Paul Collins

2009-02-06T11:53:00.003Z

This is an interesting article by Paul Collins, who is a respected commentator in the overseas property industry, which you may find of interest.

Dominic Farrell

Cyprus has long been an island that has offered Britons everything they like to get from a holiday destination - sandy beaches, blue seas, a long and hot summertime, friendly locals who can speak English and of course, plentiful golf courses.

And it seems that the former British colony may soon have more of the latter to offer, with the news that plans to build 14 new golf courses have been proposed.

The effect such development will have on tourists is clear as it is unlikely that any keen golfer will not enjoy being tested by a fresh set of holes, but how could such a move impact upon the decisions of property developers?

According to Paul Collins, the property editor at BuyAssociation, an increase in golfing opportunities should provide a boost to the property market in the area.

"Whenever leisure facilities like golf courses go in, it does tend to give a bit of fresh impetus to the property market. There have always been golf courses in Cyprus and it has always been a popular reason for people going over there," he said.

Mr Collins added that some of the courses on offer are "of a very high standard".

Furthermore, it is not just property developments in the locality of the proposed golf courses that will see the positive effect of their arrival, Mr Collins noted.

He stated that due to the size of the island, it is probable that the new leisure facilities will profit the entire community.

"The whole island will probably benefit from this. It's not a massive island and it is quite easy to get around, so there are plenty of places that can benefit from this. People don't necessarily want to live right next door to the attractions," he commented.

And if this news is not enough to tempt overseas property buyers to investigate the options in Cyprus, hard data from Statistical Office of the European Communities might do the trick.

It released figures last year that suggest population growth in Cyprus will be the strongest over the next half a century, compared to the other 25 countries in the European Union. It said that the number of people living on the island will swell by 66 per cent, growing to 1.12 million by 2035 and to 1.32 million in 2060.

This is despite the fact that the overall population of the EU will gradually decline over the same period by 2.1 per cent.

Overseas property investors who 'putt' their trust in Cyprus now, may well find they land on a small patch of green surrounded by the rough.

Source: Assetz News

Meet The Team Behind The Grove Spa Resort, Cyprus

2009-01-29T14:54:00.007Z

In a series of "Meet the Team" blog postings, we intend to introduce you to the professional team behind the InvestinCyprus.com Developers' 5 star scheme, The Grove Spa Resort in Mazotos.

We have assembled the best possible professional advisers who are the leaders in their field. As all buyers know the developers, Dominic Farrell and Stephanie Fairhurst, you will not necessarily meet the team during the construction. So here we are:

First up is the Architect and Civil Engineer seen here on site. Further information about these two key professionals will be posted tomorrow.

Best wishes

Dominic Farrell

TheMoveChannel Investigates Disneyland Of The Mediterranean In Larnaca

2009-01-28T15:17:00.007Z

Disneyland of the Mediterranean (in Larnaca)

Last week, it was announced that Russian investors have applied for planning permission to build a brand new Disney resort in Cyprus, which would be the largest ever single investment made on the island -

TheMoveChannel investigates what this would mean for the tourism and property markets in the country...

Who would have thought that Mickey and Minnie would ever make an appearance in Cyprus?

Following the Russian based Boema Group's announcement that it wishes to develop the leased state land near the UN buffer zone around the Larnaca - Famagusta border, this could become a reality.

The conglomerate had originally chosen Serbia as the ideal location for some Disney magic but Cyprus was eventually decided upon after its political stability, EU membership and year round sunshine were highlighted.

The state owned land lies between Turkish and Cypriot lines and the Russian Government are hoping that building the resort there will help to merge the Turkish and Cypriot communities.

"This £754 million project will be the largest investment in our country to be made with foreign investment capital," said Cypriot Minister of Finance, Mr. Charilaos Stavrakis.

The park is seeking to gain the reputation of being the ‘EuroDisney of the Mediterranean' and the rides in the theme park will be inspired by Greek mythology and Cypriot history, such as a daily performance of the naval Battle of Salamis.

A reconstruction of the ancient Kourion Amphitheatre, the Penatadaktylos mountain range and the Baths of Aphrodite will also be wowing visitors. If the park does go ahead, its gates are due to open in 2012, when Cyprus will receive the six-month presidency of the European Union.

What does it mean for tourism and investors?

Anything Disney related is bound to create a lot of hype and a project of this scale on an island like Cyprus cannot fail to have a large impact on both the tourism and investment sectors.

The island's economy relies heavily on tourism and the Cypriot Government thus takes the job of boosting visitor numbers very seriously. Millions of pounds have already been ploughed into improving infrastructure and transport to make access easier and make the island more appealing to overseas visitors.

Larnaca International Airport has been upgraded and future developments of the marina and port are also in the pipeline.

The Government has also recently announced plans to increase the number of golf courses on the island from three to fourteen in an effort to boost numbers.

It is estimated that the new Disney resort will create 3,000 new jobs and become an extremely valuable tourist attraction, drawing attention from holidaymakers and investors who had not previously considered Cyprus.

The resort also aims to attract more than half million tourists per year with high buying power from Russia and other countries of the former Eastern block.

If you own a property in the area or are considering investing in one, the capital growth for the future looks strong and the massively increased tourist numbers should have a positive effect on rental income.

Source: TheMoveChannel

Dominic Farrell

The Grove Spa Resort, Cyprus - Update by Dominic Farrell

2009-01-27T15:32:00.010Z

We are progressing well with The Grove Spa Resort, Cyprus construction.

Phase 1, which was the excavation of the land and preparation of the basement and foundation, is completed. The addition to the scheme of a further plot of land (that we purchased before Christmas in order to considerably enhance the development) has been approved by the planning authorities and is now being excavated for the basement and foundations.

The extra space the land has provided will allows us to make significant improvements and a lot of buyers are really delighted with the extra facilities we are adding.

Details of the additional plot can be found in the previous blog entry.

Phase 2 begins very shortly and I will post progress on this in due course.

In the meantime the interior architect has been finalising the interior look of the Spa and reception facilities. Watch this space for more news on this soon.

Best wishes

Dominic Farrell

The Grove Spa Resort, Cyprus - New Land, New Facilities

2009-01-23T13:31:00.005Z

I have just got back from Cyprus where I spent the week working with Constantinos the architect and the whole consultancy team to finalise the changes to the plans for the The Grove Spa Resort.

Back in November 2008, we bought a new piece of land adjacent to The Grove Spa Resort that recently became available. We felt this offered a fantastic opportunity to improve the overall layout of the scheme and add in extra facilities.

The purchase of the extra 780m2 of land has enabled us to do several things to considerably enhance the Resort:

We have created a much larger central space between Blocks D & E and added a further pool for children with a beach-style entry and waterfalls plus more gardens and sunbathing space around this new pool.

We have also been able to extend the shops. The size of the supermarket has increased from 95m2 to 150m2 which means we can now offer an on-site bakery and off-licence in addition to general groceries and fresh food.

The second shop has been increased from 53m2 to 90m2 to allow an extra retail facility in addition to the on-site re-sales, lettings and management office.

And finally we have added three new 1 bedroom apartments plus two 2-bedroom apartments to the second floor of Block C.

Please see the attached site map to see the new scheme layout. I think you will agree that the overall design of the scheme is significantly enhanced and that the additional pool, gardens and shops provide increased amenity at no extra cost, thereby enhancing your investment and offering even better value for money.

Stephanie Fairhurst

InvestinCyprus.com Developers

For a larger image, click here

The Grove Spa Resort, Cyprus

2009-01-06T23:37:00.001Z

Welcome to the Grove Spa Resort, Cyprus blog. The purpose of this blog is to update investors and homebuyers on the construction of this much acclaimed 5 star residential resort.