**Cabinet Decisions on Two Proposed Shopping Centres in Limassol to be Presented to Parliament**
The Cabinet of Cyprus has approved decisions regarding two proposed shopping centres in eastern Limassol, which will now be forwarded to the House of Representatives for further consideration. This announcement was made by Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou on Thursday, following a parliamentary inquiry from Limassol MP Marina Nikolaou.
The proposed developments are located in the municipal districts of Mesa Yitonia and Ayios Athanasios and have been submitted as exceptions to the existing Limassol local plan. This classification means that the projects are subject to specific legislation concerning planning derogations, allowing for deviations from standard planning regulations.
The Council of Ministers approved the decisions related to both shopping centres during its meeting on July 16. According to legal requirements, the decisions must be published in the Official Gazette within one month and subsequently sent to parliament, along with the rationale behind the approvals.
Minister Ioannou indicated that the relevant decisions would be communicated to the House of Representatives in due course. He assured MP Nikolaou that she would be kept informed of the government's stance and intentions regarding the developments.
Throughout the evaluation process, the concerns raised by local authorities, residents, and professional organizations were taken into account. The Urban Planning Authority conducted a thorough examination of the two planning applications and prepared reports for the Council for the Study of Planning Derogations (SYMEPA). Public hearings were held in October 2025, allowing various stakeholders, including opponents of the projects, to express their views. These perspectives were subsequently incorporated into the council's report.
In addition to the planning considerations, the Interior Ministry confirmed that the environmental implications of the proposed shopping centres had been assessed by the Environmental Authority, particularly focusing on air quality and other potential environmental effects.
As the decision-making process continues, the developments are expected to generate significant discussion among stakeholders in Limassol, particularly given the potential impact on local commerce and the community. The next steps will depend on the parliamentary review and any further public discourse that may arise as the proposals move forward.