The project of the shopping complex «Alma Plaza Lifestyle Center», in Almancil, which is being promoted by the Algarve company Apolónia and will have a supermarket of this chain as its anchor store, has entered the final phase.
At this moment, the public consultation of the Environmental Compliance Report of the Execution Project (RECAPE) of this project is taking place, whose approval will lead to the start of the subdivision process and subsequent construction of the shopping centre, whose completion is scheduled for «summer 2017 », according to Paulo Apolónia, administrator of the company.
Anyone who wants to consult the RECAPE, which focuses on the external infrastructure of the commercial complex, namely "streets, hydraulic and electrical infrastructure", can do so until October 14th, on the CCDRA website.
Paulo Apolónia revealed to the Sul Informação that, as soon as this RECAPE process is completed, the ball it is on the side of the Chamber of Loulé. «From the moment RECAPE is approved, the subdivision advances. The beginning of the work depends on this process, in charge of the autarchy, which may be more or less time consuming. If the subdivision goes fast, we plan to open Alma Plaza in the summer of 2017», that is, in a little less than two years, said Paulo Apolónia. The period of execution of the work is «about 17 months».
In the document now under consultation, it is explained that, once this process is completed, a second report will be presented, relating to the construction phase of the shopping centre.
The process started over a year ago, with the presentation of an Environmental Impact Study, and the project presented by the Algarve company received, in the meantime, an Environmental Impact Statement «conditional favourable». RECAPE aims to prove that the project is in accordance with what was approved by the Environmental authorities, integrating the conditions imposed.
This complex, to be implemented in an area of 5,5 hectares located 500 meters from the supermarket the company has in Almancil, the first in the chain, will create "up to 505 direct jobs and 210 indirect jobs, all year round", according to the Environmental Impact Study presented. In the construction phase, it will generate 100 direct jobs and 250 jobs.
Initially, this project was expected to motivate an investment of 49 million euros, capital that would mostly come from abroad. But, at least for now, only 25 million euros will be invested, as the company Apolónia decided to divide the establishment of the shopping center into two phases. In the first phase, a smaller complex will be built than initially planned, with an Apolónia supermarket and "60 to 70 stores". Even so, the possibility of “an eventual expansion” will remain, as soon as justified.
This is another investment that the Algarve company, created in 1983 by Avelino and Célia Apolónia, makes in the region. The Apolónia group currently has 430 employees in the various units it has in the Algarve. Since 2008, it has invested more than 13 million euros in the construction of new supermarkets, namely in Galé (2008) and in Lagoa (2015).
Scroll over the map to find out more about Apolónia's investments in the Algarve:
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