CCT Draft policy for Urban Planning

Property developers should keep an eye out for the opportunity to participate in a proposed spatial development plan designed to guide urban growth in Cape Town, which will replace the current guidelines on land use decisions. The draft plan has been approved by the City and will be available for public comment by August.

Alderman Brian Watkyns, chairperson of the Planning and Environment Portfolio Committee (PEPCO), said it was too early to say how the proposed spatial development plan, which is an effort to view development in the city "holistically" and create a more formalised structure, would affect property developers.

But he said that over the years separate municipalities had "done their own thing". With the Democratic Alliance in control of the broader metro, a more holistic approach could now be developed.

The system is designed to monitor and manage land development and will inform investors about where potential development opportunities exist in the short and long term.

But it will be a while yet before developers can take a close look at the ins and outs of the scheme and what the implications for them might be. Although he couldn't say for sure where opportunities may be, he noted the Voortrekker Road corridor and South East area as potential sites.

"There will be opportunities because we need to look at where development needs to take place," he said. As it stands, the Cape Town Spatial Development Framework (CTSDF) draft is "very high-level", with a broad view of the city, and therefore predictions of how it will change property development in particular have yet to be explored. Once produced, property owners and developers would need to look at it closely and comment.

PEPCO had approved the Cape Town draft for public participation, as well as three district plans for Blaauwberg, Eastern ex-Helderberg and Mitchells Plain/Khayelitsha. More district plans would be submitted in July for approval.

"The implementation of these plans relies on partnerships between the private sector, communities and other spheres of government," said Watkyns.

The policy aimed to ensure the city was restrained from expanding uncontrollably, mindful of its natural resources and investment in the development of "corridors" that were well served by public transport, cycle and pedestrian routes.

"We need to look at the future of the city, where it should grow and what it should look like in 15 to 20 years and beyond," he said.

Copies of the full Draft Development Framework and the eight district plans will be available at www.capetown.gov.za/en/sdf in early August.