Limassol, Cyprus. Residents are preparing to protest against a planned €95 million shopping mall in Ayios Athanasios after the cabinet approved a planning dispensation for the development.
The Alliance for Limassol said it will hold a demonstration on Friday at 6pm on Ayios Athanasios Avenue, outside the Jumbo store parking area.
Protest plans
The initiative called on the public to oppose the decision, saying it was taken without sufficient consideration of the city’s existing problems.
It said the demonstration aims to send a strong message to the government over concerns that the project could increase traffic congestion and affect residents’ quality of life.
Development details
The proposed mall is backed by CAC Papantoniou Ltd and Swillmatch Ventures Ltd. It is expected to include about 28,434 square metres of commercial space, with 90 shops, restaurants and a cinema.
The project is supported by a group including companies behind Nicosia Mall, Athienitis Supermarkets, the Zorpas Group, the Voici La Mode Marks & Spencer Group and Jumbo Trading Ltd.
Government rationale and objections
Cabinet approved the project despite objections from Amathounta municipality, Limassol mayor Yiannis Armeftis and the technical chamber, Etek.
The government said the development would help balance commercial activity between Limassol’s western and eastern areas, noting that My Mall already serves the western side of the city.
According to the cabinet’s reasoning, the planned site is already transitioning towards offices, superstores and other commercial uses, making the mall compatible with existing development.
Traffic concerns
Traffic has been the principal source of opposition. The public works department found that parts of the existing road network were already operating above capacity, with saturation levels reaching up to 138 per cent at some junctions.
