Town Planning blocks Limassol Lidl plan

THE Town Planning Relaxation Council has rejected plans to build a Lidl supermarket in a residential area of Limassol.
European discount hypermarket chain Lidl had sought town planning permission to erect the building in the Ayios Tychonas suburb of Limassol.
The Commerce Ministry had backed the plan, saying it would be beneficial to residents.
But application was rejected because of the inconvenience such a construction would cause the Ayios Tychonas community.

The Town Planning Department and local council rejected the plan outright.
The Limassol District Officer, the Commerce Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, the Police Chief, the head of the Environmental Services and the head of the Fire Services had all given conditional approval for the project.

Lidl was seeking permission to build a 1,497 square metre supermarket in an area outside the developmental limits set by the government’s Local Plan.
The supermarket chain also claimed the construction would help realise the government’s policy of attracting foreign investments, as well as boosting peripheral development.
But weighing all the odds, the town planning regional officer decided the building would violate relevant regulations.

He pointed out that cars heading to Lidl would have to pass through Ayios Tychonas, thus inconveniencing residents.

He also said the supermarket could pose a threat to surrounding small food stores.
Finally, he referred to the opposition by residents and small shop owners.

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