Cyprus government overrides local opposition to approve 95 million Limassol Mall
The Cabinet approved a planning derogation for the new €95 million Limassol Mall in Agios Athanasios on Thursday, bypassing strong objections from local authorities, business groups, and shop owners. The decision greenlights one of two competing applications for large retail centers situated close to each other.
The complex will be built directly opposite the existing Jumbo store, a location that critics warn will cripple the area’s already saturated road network and threaten the survival of traditional town center shops. The development, owned by C.A.C. Papantoniou Ltd, will feature a total covered area of 76,392 square metres, including 28,434 square metres of rentable space. The layout spans a basement, ground floor, mezzanine, and two upper floors. It is designed to house around 90 shops, six kiosks, two large restaurants, two cafes, a food court with seven outlets, a five-screen cinema, an arcade room, and 1,278 parking spaces, including 21 for disabled drivers and eight for families.
Limassol town centre shopkeepers expressed strong opposition to the investment. Their spokesperson, Kristis Demetriou, told Kanali 6 that the mall will worsen gridlock and disrupt the wider functioning of the city. Demetriou said the issue extends beyond historic centre businesses to the future quality of life in Limassol, warning that residents will feel the consequences for years to come. He called the consultation process a mockery, stating that local opinions are systematically ignored. He clarified that shopkeepers do not oppose investment but believe projects of this scale belong in areas where infrastructure can handle the load.
The Limassol municipal council also hit back at the government. Deputy Mayor Dimos Katsis stated online that the approval directly violates the local authority’s clear negative position, which followed detailed urban planning, traffic, and economic impact assessments. Katsis said that overriding local government undermines its institutional role and sets a damaging precedent for community decision-making. He warned that introducing another massive mall squeezes small to medium-sized enterprises, jeopardising hundreds of local livelihoods.
Both projects previously received environmental clearance, but the government chose to grant exceptional approval only to the Limassol Mall development. The decision has sparked fierce local backlash, with critics arguing that the new mall will exacerbate traffic congestion and harm local businesses.
The development is owned by C.A.C. Papantoniou Ltd and will feature a total covered area of 76,392 square metres, including 28,434 square metres of rentable space. The layout spans a basement, ground floor, mezzanine, and two upper floors. It is designed to house around 90 shops, six kiosks, two large restaurants, two cafes, a food court with seven outlets, a five-screen cinema, an arcade room, and 1,278 parking spaces, including 21 for disabled drivers and eight for families.
Local shopkeepers and the Limassol municipal council have expressed strong opposition to the decision, citing concerns about traffic congestion and the impact on local businesses. The government's decision overrides the local authority's negative position, which was based on urban planning, traffic, and economic impact assessments.
The Limassol municipal council also hit back at the government. Deputy Mayor Dimos Katsis stated online that the approval directly violates the local authority’s clear negative position, which followed detailed urban planning, traffic, and economic impact assessments. Katsis said that overriding local government undermines its institutional role and sets a damaging precedent for community decision-making. He warned that introducing another massive mall squeezes small to medium-sized enterprises, jeopardising hundreds of local livelihoods.
The decision has sparked fierce local backlash, with critics arguing that the new mall will exacerbate traffic congestion and harm local businesses. The development is owned by C.A.C. Papantoniou Ltd and will feature a total covered area of 76,392 square metres, including 28,434 square metres of rentable space. The layout spans a basement, ground floor, mezzanine, and two upper floors. It is designed to house around 90 shops, six kiosks, two large restaurants, two cafes, a food court with seven outlets, a five-screen cinema, an arcade room, and 1,278 parking spaces, including 21 for disabled drivers and eight for families.
Local shopkeepers and the Limassol municipal council have expressed strong opposition to the decision, citing concerns about traffic congestion and the impact on local businesses. The government's decision overrides the local authority's negative position, which was based on urban planning, traffic, and economic impact assessments.
The Limassol municipal council also hit back at the government. Deputy Mayor Dimos Katsis stated online that the approval directly violates the local authority’s clear negative position, which followed detailed urban planning, traffic, and economic impact assessments. Katsis said that overriding local government undermines its institutional role and sets a damaging precedent for community decision-making. He warned that introducing another massive mall squeezes small to medium-sized enterprises, jeopardising hundreds of local livelihoods.
The decision has sparked fierce local backlash, with critics arguing that the new mall will exacerbate traffic congestion and harm local businesses.
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