Limassol, Cyprus. The Derogations Council began examining two applications for shopping centre developments in eastern Limassol in late March, with further sessions expected before final decisions are made.
Council review process
According to Entrepreneurial Limassol, a periodical published by the Limassol Chamber of Commerce (Evel), the five-member Derogations Council is reviewing the proposals in detail before reaching its conclusions.
“The process will continue in further meetings until final decisions are reached,” said Soteris Ktorides, president of the Council for the Study of Derogations, in response to a query.
Ktorides said that once the examination is completed, the council will submit its reasoned recommendations to the Cabinet, without providing a specific timeline.
Applications and prior meeting
The council previously convened in December 2025, when it reviewed and approved the minutes of two public hearings dated October 10, 2025, concerning two separate applications.
One application was submitted by The Mall of Limassol Ltd. The second was submitted as a joint proposal involving C.A.C. Papantoniou LTD, Suzana and Giannakis Christodoulou, and Jumbo Trading LTD.
Local concerns and possible outcome
Local authorities and stakeholders in Limassol have raised concerns with the central government regarding the requests for derogation-based licensing of the two proposed shopping centres, reflecting a shared position.
“Initially I believed that both malls would be approved,” said Kyriacos Xydias, mayor of Amathounta, adding that developments have shifted following interventions by local authorities.
Xydias said it is now more likely that only one licence will be granted, and that it would include significant modifications compared with the investors’ original proposals.
Municipal proposals and mobility principles
According to information cited by the publication, the Derogations Council requested and received proposals from the municipality of Amathounta, prepared with the support of the University of Cyprus, focusing on creating a shopping centre under sustainable urban mobility principles.
What changes, if any, do you expect the Cabinet to make to the proposed shopping centre plans?