Areyksat will develop significantly as the Korean government explores grand designs of a Mekong River bridge connecting Phnom Penh to Kandal Province.
Areyksat, on the eastern bank of the Mekong, is mooted to fall under the jurisdiction of the capital and will become a satellite city with shopping malls, residential, commercial, leisure and entertainment hubs.
Technical teams researched numerous potential sites at Chroy Changvar and Daun Penh’s Riverside precinct to connect with Kandal Province.
A ‘Bay Area Economic Circle’ landmark plan now underway will incorporate the Mekong and Tonle Bassac rivers into the city fabric to connect various population centres and alleviate traffic congestion to make travel more convenient.
Phnom Penh’s outward expansion has mostly been in the north, south and west (with multiple borey projects), but the Cambodia-South Korea Friendship Bridge (Svay Chrum) will open up the eastward expansion.
Chbar Ampov to the southeast is a major population centre for almost 170,000 residents with many new residential and commercial projects underway including a new bridge connecting it to Koh Pich (Koh Norea Bridge).
This services the new Koh Norea Satellite City (currently at 30% completion) directly opposite Areyksat on the Mekong.
These projects indicate a definitive eastward expansion of the city and the connection with Areyksat will be the final result of the ongoing development of Chbar Ampov and Chroy Changvar.
In December 2020 Koh Norea was about 420 metres wide and by November 2021, the infill had narrowed the Mekong by about one-third at that location.
The channel may be narrowed further due to infilling on the opposing bank for a separate satellite city project, suggesting another bridge is being considered.
Mekong River bridge – a step forward for Phnom Penh
According to a recent report, major retail spaces in the city are expected to dominate, growing to just under 1M sqm by 2025 across 62 shopping destinations.
This phenomenon is driven by the now global expectation of the youth generation (Gen Z and Millennials).
Quite simply, they want more and better shopping with a range of entertainment options under one safe and comfortable air-conditioned roof.
They differ from previous generations in that they consider the journey to be as important as the destination.
If not, more.
Shopping isn’t just about buying stuff, it’s about meeting friends and sharing experiences.
More and more, we are witness to product launches, fashion shows, dance and singing competitions offered as extras to the shopping environment.
This is changing the major retail landscape in most cities across the globe… and now Phnom Penh.
With some exceptions, retail supply growth is being largely driven by the popularity and growth of the Borey market, located in the outer suburbs.
Developers, driven by increased competition, are looking to provide a wider selection of major retail options and events as a selling point to attract property buyers.
As a result, shopping malls, retail plazas, and community malls are being incorporated into the broader design and construction of Borey and township projects.
The predominant areas of growth – Sen Sok, Meanchey, Chamkarmon, Toul Kork, and Chbar Ampov – are the new nexus in the city’s expansion.
Major retail options are now expanding to cater for the daily needs of the population in these high growth areas.
Of the 5 primary retail classifications – shopping malls, community malls, shopping centres, retail podiums, and retail arcades, community malls are proving to be the most popular retail properties.
More than 50% of Phnom Penh’s current retail properties are classified as a Community Mall, making it the most prominent type of retail property, followed by shopping centres.
Retail spaces are expected to continue to dominate retail space offerings as they complement the ongoing development of large mixed-use projects.
