The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has ordered Chaundhry Associates to immediately stop construction of a proposed shopping mall in Area 10, Lilongwe, citing encroachment into land reserved for recreation and conservation.

The directive is contained in stop notice number 2026-08-103, issued by the Commissioner for Physical Planning.

According to the notice, the site earmarked for the shopping complex forms part of the catchment area for the Area 10 Dam, making it unsuitable for the proposed development.

The ministry further states that the development is contrary to the 2030 Land Use Plan for Lilongwe City, which designates the plot as land reserved for “recreation and conservation purposes only.”

The decision effectively halts construction activities at the site pending any further action or appeal by the developer.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning has advised Chaundhry Associates that it has the right to challenge the decision if it is aggrieved by the stop notice.

The developer may appeal to the Physical Planning Council within 30 days from the date the notice is served.

The ministry’s intervention highlights the importance of complying with approved land-use plans and planning regulations when undertaking major developments in the city.

The Area 10 development has attracted attention because of the environmental and land-use implications associated with construction within a designated catchment area.

It remains to be seen whether Chaundhry Associates will appeal the decision or abandon the proposed shopping complex at the site.

The ministry has not indicated whether alternative land could be considered for the development.