ESA’s first project since being bought by Capita Symonds has started on site in Cyprus.

The £50 million mixed-use Riviera scheme is being built across 17ha in the suburbs of Nicosia, one of the richest cities in the world by per capita income.

The masterplan, commissioned in 2008 by Plaza Exclusive Projects, consists of 200 villas, houses and apartments, an 18,000sq m commercial sector and restaurants, retail and leisure facilities.

The buildings are planned around a regenerated natural creek that will form the heart of a new linear park alongside the scheme. It will contain hundreds of eucalyptus, citrus and olive trees and 3km of cycle and pedestrian paths.

The first phase of the project is due for completion in 2013.

ESA, which has 60 staff in offices in London, Hull and Katowice, Poland, was bought by Capita Symonds in October.