Atterbury Properties is about to start construction on the eagerly awaited Beau Vallon Mall on the island paradise of Mauritius. Beau Vallon is a joint venture between Atterbury, EnAtt and Ascencia and it is being jointly developed by Enatt and Atterbury. We pinned down Nilesh Dabysing, head of property development at Enatt and Roux Gerber from Atterbury, between his travels, to get the details.
Where exactly on the island is the new mall situated and why was this area selected?
Beau Vallon Mall is located in Grand Port District and is situated in the southeast of the island, a stone’s throw away from the airport. It is located at the intersection of the Blue Bay and Mahebourg arterial roads. There are 31 954 households in Grand Port which has a population of 112 979, accounting for 9% of the total population of the whole island. The access and road exposure of the site are as close to perfect as possible.
How far exactly are you in the process – what is happening on the site at the moment?
We have obtained our building permit and are in the final stages of appointing the main building contractor. The bulk earthworks have been completed and the site is ready for the main contractor to establish on site and to start the building works.
When will it all be completed and ready to welcome shoppers?
The projected opening date for Beau Vallon Mall is end of November 2019.
How big will the mall be once completed?
Beau Vallon Mall will have gross lettable area of 10 500 sqm and a total of 47 shops.
We hear that you’re almost fully let, and you haven’t even started building! That really shows demand… What are the other shopping options in the area?
Retail in the form of a mall experience is non-existent in the southern part of Mauritius, so for retailers this is no doubt the most exciting opportunity in the south. A well-established local food store, King Savers, grabbed the opportunity to relocate and expand their business to Beau Vallon Mall as the anchor tenant, and almost all the existing retail brands on the island followed suit to secure a spot.
Is there any competitor whatsoever for this new mall in the market?
There is no formal and properly planned shopping-centre in the direct vicinity, but a few “smart cities” are in the planning stages; and these aspire to have a retail component as part of their offering. Up till now the community relied on street vending and standalone food outlets for their basic daily needs.
What kind of stores will make up the tenant complement – is it weighted towards a specific type of offering?
The tenant mix and offering will cover the full spectrum of the retail market. There will be a supermarket, a building-supplies and home department store, fashion outlets, health and beauty stores, restaurants and sport outlets… in short, it’s balanced and focused on the needs of the residents in the area.
We believe that the area is rich in history… have you incorporated any of that thematically?
The area’s strong historic link with seafaring has been incorporated in the form of boating elements in the design of Beau Vallon Mall. These are evident in both the inside and outside design with a contemporary approach that will add to shoppers’ unique experience.
Are there any particular challenges to building a mall on an island – other than that everything probably has to be shipped there? Are you using any local materials?
Yes, basically everything on the island is imported and limited stock and samples are available for walk-in customers, specifically in the building industry. Therefore, the planning, procurement and logistics become the most important aspects to be able to open on time. In terms of local material, we are using rock cladding for a substantial part of the external facade of the mall. Basic building material relating to building blocks and concrete are locally available, but all finished items are procured from abroad through local companies in Mauritius. As the island is experiencing a boom time in the construction and development sectors, the availability of certain trades, materials and finishes are limited and overexposed.
