German developer ECE Projektmanagement has received a construction permit for a new shopping centre in downtown Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second largest city, Polish papers reported this week.

The project, to be named Trimontium Center, is based on a partnership between ECE and HSH Real Estate and will feature 51,000 m2 of retail space across 200 shops located right in the city centre.

ECE has a number of retail projects in Bulgaria, including the Serdika Centre which is expected to open its doors in March in the Bulgarian capital. The scheme, involving development costs of EUR 210 mln, is being realised in partnership with Sparkassen Immobilien and will offer 51,000 m2 of retail space as well as 32,000 m2 of office accomodation on completion. Over 96% of the scheme has already been leased.

In Varna, on the Black Sea, ECE's Bulgarian arm is also building the Cherno More Park shopping centre in a 50/50 joint venture with Immoeast. The opening of the centre is expected for the end of 2010.