Multi Development Czech Republic plans to develop a 16,000 m[sup]2[/sup] shopping and leisure centre in Slovakia in its first project in the country. The Netherlands-based company said on Thursday it has acquired a plot of land from the municipality of Presov in the east of Slovakia for the mall but it did not disclose the price.

Multi Development Czech Republic plans to develop a 16,000 m2 shopping and leisure centre in Slovakia in its first project in the country. The Netherlands-based company said on Thursday it has acquired a plot of land from the municipality of Presov in the east of Slovakia for the mall but it did not disclose the price.

The project will include a food court, a leisure area and a three-level retail space. Construction is scheduled to start in spring 2008. The development is located in the centre of Presov, Slovakia's third largest city, and has a 500,000 catchment area.

An existing Tesco store will be linked to the project through new pedestrian zones. The property development group said the land transaction 'marks the first step in the regeneration of this part of the city'.

Multi Development is part of Multi Corporation, a group of companies carrying out various activities throughout 18 countries in Europe. Its subsidiary Multi Development Czech Republic has been awarded for the shopping malls in Olomouc, Plzn and Chodov, in the Czech Republic.