Carrefour Polska plans new retail development in Warsaw's Wilanow district

French retail chain Carrefour Polska has revealed details of a shopping centre planned for the Wilanow district of Warsaw but whether or not the development is to go ahead, will depend on a local authority referendum of residents to be held on September 15 this year. Carrefour currently awaits a license to start development, but faces fierce competition with two other big chains, Metro AG and Auchan Polska, seeking to exert their presence in the same area. Metro AG is the current favorite having received a decision on conditions for an office development as part of their project. The effects on local people in terms of employment and the local economy are also under discussion by the local authority. "We predict that thanks to our investment 2,700 people will find work, meaning that unemployment in Wilanow will decrease by 45%," explained Krzysztof Zielinski, Auchan Polska's regional development director. But nonetheless some local residents are protesting, trying to prevent the works from going ahead with a coalition against shopping centers in Wilanow collecting 1,657 signatures in opp osition to the development. It is as a result of this petition that the referendum was scheduled. (Puls Biznesu, p. 7) A.L.