UCPS Eyes Petit Paris Lagoon for Major Land Reclamation Project
A fresh wave of concrete ambitions is rippling through Cascade—literally. United Concrete Products Seychelles Ltd (UCPS) has formally submitted a proposal to reclaim nearly 30,000 square metres of land from the Petit Paris Lagoon, sparking conversations about environmental impact, development priorities, and the future of Mahé’s eastern coastline.
The public got wind of the project via an official government notice signed by President Wavel Ramkalawan on 27 February 2025, under the Land Reclamation Act (Cap 106). The scale? A hefty 29,267 square metres—roughly the size of four football fields—set to be filled in for UCPS’s proposed expansion.
Reactions have ranged from cautious optimism to outright concern. While proponents argue the project could unlock valuable industrial or commercial space and help ease land scarcity on Mahé, others warn it could disrupt the fragile marine ecosystem of the lagoon and further strain an already pressured coastline.
“We’ve seen what unchecked reclamation can do to our marine life and natural beauty,” said one concerned resident of Cascade. “If this goes forward, the public deserves full transparency on environmental protections.”
Environmentalists and urban planners are keeping a close watch, with some calling for a comprehensive environmental impact assessment and public consultation before any heavy machinery rolls in.
As the application moves through official channels, the nation waits to see whether the lagoon at Petit Paris will soon become the foundation for Seychelles’ next major concrete venture—or the center of a new conservation debate.
