Cabinet approves major shopping mall project in Agios Athanasios

Last Thursday, the Council of Ministers granted a planning permit for a €95 million shopping centre in the Agios Athanasios district of Limassol. The investment comprises €55 million in construction costs and €40 million in individual shop fittings, backed by a consortium including C.A.C. Papantoniou Ltd, Swillmatch Ventures Ltd, and major retail groups such as Zorpas and Voici La Mode. Although the Council for the Study of Deviations unanimously recommended the project with strict conditions and mandatory traffic works, the decision faced objections from the Amathounta Municipality, the Mayor of Limassol, ETEK, and Alma. The government justified the exemption by arguing that the mall balances commercial activity in eastern Limassol, utilizes a transitioning industrial zone, and creates thousands of jobs. Conversely, critics such as Alma challenge the legal basis for bypassing standard planning regulations and express concerns over the potential negative impact on the city’s traditional commercial centre. Concerns were also raised regarding traffic congestion, with demands for greater transparency and the publication of the project's traffic impact study.