Mauritius Approves 300-Acre Pierrefonds Largest Land Development Project

The Mauritian Ministry of Environment has approved a large-scale residential and commercial land development project in Pierrefonds, covering about 300 acres (125 hectares). The project is led by Medine Limited, a prominent land developer.

On June 25, 2025, the Ministry granted environmental approval after Medine submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) permit application on April 5.

This approval allows for an unprecedented subdivision in the Rivière-Noire district.

The project involves dividing the land along the Flic-en-Flac Bypass, near communities like Palma, Bassin, Beaux-Songes, La Source, La Louise, and Candos.

The site, currently used for sugarcane farming, covers approximately 125 hectares (about 300 acres) owned by Medine.

The subdivision will create 1,901 lots, including 1,789 residential plots, 72 mixed-use (residential/commercial) plots, 39 green spaces, a lot for a caretaker’s house and management offices, and a section designated as a green forest zone.

According to the EIA report, the land doesn’t host ecologically sensitive flora or fauna, and it’s not classified as a protected environmental zone.

Nearby rivers, Rempart and Papayes, meet required safety distances from the development site.

This project marks the second phase of a previous subdivision already approved in Pierrefonds. Medine has extensive experience with similar projects in Roches Brunes, Coromandel, Albion, and Flic-en-Flac.

The company also has permission from the Ministry of Agro-industries to convert land from agricultural use to mixed residential and commercial purposes.

The site is not considered prime agricultural land, according to the Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute (MSIRI).

To offset the loss of farmland, Medine has reforested vacant land and adopted modern farming practices in partnership with the Mauritius Cane Industry Authority (MCIA).

The development will feature modern infrastructure, including 5.5-meter-wide roads with sidewalks, street lighting, stormwater drainage, and underground water and electricity services.

Access to the site will be improved with new roundabouts linking the Palma B2 road to the Flic-en-Flac Bypass, coordinated with the Road Development Authority (RDA).

Its proximity to Phoenix–Beaux-Songes Road (B130) will enable quick connections to Cascavelle and Jumbo shopping centers, avoiding the town center of Quatre-Bornes.

Medine stated that the project aligns with government efforts to increase housing availability.

Parcels will range from medium to large sizes, with affordable options for middle-income families. Construction guidelines will ensure aesthetic harmony and limit density.

The development is expected to create jobs during construction and stimulate the local economy. It is also aiming to promote more compact urban growth, aligning with territorial development policies.

The EIA report indicated that, with proper wastewater management, the project should not significantly harm the land or geology.

However, potential risks related to pollution and waste production will be addressed through mitigation measures to protect the environment and local residents.

Source: Defi Media