48 hectares, new antennas and a protest march: why Akrotiri has become the centre of a major conflict

Residents take to the streets, authorities accuse the British bases of concealing their plans, and the dispute has long gone beyond environmental concerns

On 8 August, the Kourion Municipality will hold a protest march against plans by the British Sovereign Bases to expand antenna facilities in Akrotiri. According to local authorities, this is not about several new installations but a large-scale expansion of military infrastructure that could affect the environment, residents and the future of the region.

The march will start at 9:30 from the first entrance to the municipal district. Organisers say that political parties, environmental movements and civil society organisations from Limassol will join the action.

The protesters’ main concern is the possible expropriation of around 48 hectares of community land for new military facilities.

20, 32 or almost 90? Why the figures raise so many questions

The number of planned future antennas has become the main source of disagreement.

Kourion Mayor Pantelis Georgiou claims that the municipality was initially told that 20 new antennas would be installed and 18 old ones dismantled. Later, he says, it emerged that a further 68 antennas were planned for installation at the first stage, followed by the construction of two new buildings and the expansion of existing infrastructure.

At the same time, London officially notified Nicosia in spring 2026 only of plans to install 32 antennas. Because of the discrepancies in the figures, local authorities accuse the British bases of concealing the true scale of the project for a long time.

The “temporary” antennas never disappeared

The project has also been opposed by AKEL’s district committee in Limassol. The party points out that the 18 antennas installed in 2018 were described as temporary and were supposed to be dismantled in 2025, but this did not happen.

In AKEL’s view, the current plans indicate not temporary use of the territory but a gradual expansion of the military presence. The party believes this increases geopolitical risks for Cyprus and is calling on the government to intervene.

What is known about radiation

The question of the antennas’ impact on health remains the most contentious.

The British bases had previously promised to install three stations for continuous monitoring of electromagnetic radiation, publish the data in real time and present an environmental impact assessment.

At the same time, existing studies have found no direct link between the operation of the existing antennas and an increase in cancer rates. After the Pluto antenna was installed in 2001, independent measurements showed radiation levels significantly below European standards. Nevertheless, the municipality is demanding new epidemiological studies.

The dispute over the antennas has become political

The conflict around Akrotiri is no longer solely environmental.

Residents are preparing individual complaints to the European Court of Human Rights, while the municipality has hired lawyers. At the same time, Nicosia is preparing for talks with London on the future of the British Sovereign Bases. President Nikos Christodoulides previously described them as a “colonial remnant”, while the British side rejects that characterisation.

The situation is further aggravated by tensions in the region. In March 2026, Akrotiri air base was attacked by a drone, while the peninsula itself is a protected natural area under the Ramsar Convention.

Today, the dispute is no longer just about antennas. For some, it is a matter of security; for others, it is about residents’ right to know what changes are taking place near their homes and who is making decisions that could change the future of an entire region.