Fresh developments in plans to open new mall in Limassol

There have been new developments in the efforts to open a new mall in eastern Limassol, InBusinessNews has reported.

Some months after property investment company Atterbury's interest in expanding to Limassol became known through comments by Henk Deist, CEO of Atterbury Europe, last January, there have been fresh developments fueling the rumor about plans for a new mall in Limassol.

Atterbury owns the Mall of Cyprus together with the Shacolas Emporium Park, as well as the Mall of Engomi.

InBusinessNews had contacted representatives of Atterbury in Cyprus, which reported that Atterbury Europe characterised the Limassol market as attractive and that they foresee great growth prospects in the area.

Application for a mall

In a recent development, Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s ‘Epiheirimatik Lemeso’ monthly online publication reported information recently broadcast by Limassol-based radio station Kanali 6. According to the report, an application will be submitted to the Town Planning Department for the granting of a planning permit for the development of a new mall in derogation of Limassol’s Local Plan.

A notification has also been placed on the facade of a large block on Spyros Kyprianou Avenue, near its intersection with Ayios Athanasios Avenue, dated 22 February, 2023.

The block is located near the industrial area of ​​Ayios Athanasios, where the head offices of technology companies as well as commercial stores are situated. Whatever is developed on the site is expected to also attract residents of the area and eastern Limassol in particular, given that it is located near a residential area.

Based on the notification in question, meanwhile, written representations from affected parties could be submitted to the Town Planning Authority within one month of its publication, while it is emphasised that the derogation for which the request is submitted concerns the creation of a mall.

The application is being examined in Nicosia

‘Epiheirimatik Lemeso’ also reports that a preliminary query has been submitted to the District Office of Town Planning on the development, but due to the nature of the query, this will be examined at the Department’s head office in Nicosia.

According to the same sources, it is estimated that a traffic study will also be required, since the development is located on the border of the municipalities of Mesa Yitonia and Ayios Athanasios and a road network will have to be opened up to benefit both municipalities.

InBusinessNews in February, meanwhile, also reported that Atterbury, which already owns the Mall of Cyprus together with the Shacolas Emporium Park, as well as the Mall of Engomi, was preparing to expand into Limassol.

A few years ago, the acquisition of a piece of land near Jumbo, in the Linopetra area, within the Municipality of Ayios Athanasios, was on the negotiation table, without a positive outcome.

Always based on the same sources, there has already been an impact on large retail and catering chains for their possible participation in the big project.

However, it should be emphasised that a study on the commercial consequences of the operation of a second mall in Limassol may be required, as a source familiar with urban planning data told ‘Epiheirimatik Lemeso’ a new mall may have a negative impact on the city's commercial streets.

(Source: InBusinessNews)