Approval granted for new shopping center in Limassol

On July 16, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Cyprus authorized the construction of a new 30,000 square meter shopping center in the Agios Athanasios industrial zone of Limassol. The project, backed by Nicosia Mall shareholders and the Papantoniou group with an investment of approximately 95 million euros, will feature 90 shops, a food court, a cinema with five halls, and recreation areas. While proponents highlight development, local municipal officials and business owners have expressed strong opposition, citing inadequate consultation and potential negative impacts on small businesses. A central point of contention is the projected traffic congestion on the Agios Athanasios avenue, already heavily used by existing retailers like Jumbo. To mitigate these risks, investors are mandated to build three roundabouts and expand roads to three lanes, though critics remain skeptical of the timeline. Some stakeholders also doubt claims regarding job creation, pointing to existing labor shortages in the retail sector.