Limassol, Cyprus. Alma on Monday questioned the cabinet’s approval of a major commercial development in Ayios Athanasios, citing concerns over the legal basis for the decision, its effect on Limassol’s commercial centre and traffic congestion.
The project is planned for vacant land at the entrance to the Ayios Athanasios industrial area, next to Jumbo, and is being promoted by the Papantoniou Group and the consortium behind Nicosia Mall.
Planning exemption concerns
Alma said the development was not approved under the standard provisions of the current development plan, but through a cabinet-approved exemption from planning regulations.
It said such exemptions must be justified according to specific principles and criteria, and called on the government to publish the justification for the decision, including the criteria used to approve the project.
Impact on city centre
The group said the proposed mall’s location outside Limassol’s traditional commercial centre raised concerns that it could weaken, rather than reinforce, the city’s urban and commercial core.
According to Alma, experience from other shopping malls in Cyprus indicates that such projects can move commercial activity and visitors away from traditional town centres, with significant consequences for small and medium-sized businesses.
Traffic study call
Alma also called for the publication of the project’s traffic impact study, saying a development of this scale in an already congested area required greater transparency.
The latest intervention follows criticism last week from Akel’s Limassol district committee, which said the project prioritised large commercial interests over residents’ needs. The party warned that it could worsen traffic congestion, undermine sustainable urban planning and divert business from Limassol’s traditional shopping centre, affecting small local businesses.