The City of Cape Town has approved the release of five properties for the development of 1300 affordable housing units, marking a significant step forward in addressing the city’s housing needs, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Also read: Mayco backs Lansdowne, Ottery land release for affordable housing
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis stated that this initiative would be a game changer for families seeking affordable rental housing, as the City advances efforts to create opportunities on well-located land across the metro, with over 12 000 affordable units now in the pipeline.
According to the City, the properties are located in Lansdowne (308 units), Ottery (375), Brackenfell (145), Wesfleur (116), and Belhar (400), with the land release following the completion of public participation in these areas.
Public participation will be held on the proposed release of portions of Mowbray Golf Course for a major 42-hectare long-term development following Wednesday’s Council approval.
In under two years, over 4 200 units from various municipal-owned properties have been released through the Mayoral Priority Programme for affordable housing, contributing to a total of 12 000 units in the pipeline.
‘Bit by bit, property by property, we are changing the affordable housing picture in Cape Town,’ says Hill-Lewis.
‘Each of these developments might seem relatively small on their own compared to the pressing overall need.’
‘But take a step back and look at the full scale of our affordable housing pipeline, and you will see that housing in our city is undergoing a transformation.’
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis emphasised that these properties will provide more than just homes; they offer families the chance to change their lives, build for their future, and improve opportunities for their children, to help thousands more families in Cape Town.
The City foresees around 375 social housing units in a development of between two and four storeys on the Ottery site, while the Lansdowne site will deliver around 308 units in a four-storey development.
The Brackenfell property is earmarked for a mixed-use development that will include around 115 social housing units, 30 gap housing units and retail space.
The other two properties – one in the Robinvale area of Wesfleur and the other in Belhar – will be developed for single residential gap housing units.
The Wesfleur and Belhar properties, located in established residential areas near schools, churches and transport corridors, are ideal for gap housing developments targeting those who earn too much for subsidies but not enough for home loans
‘As is the case with all our other affordable housing projects, we will discount all these parcels of land to the housing developer in exchange for the optimal yield of social and gap housing units under our newly developed guidelines for land release,’ said the City’s mayoral committee member for Human Settlements, Councillor Carl Pophaim.
‘The affordable housing developments that we are enabling add real value to neighbourhoods and in many cases, invigorates and revitalises areas due to the investment.’
There is anticipation for more affordable housing opportunities, which have already transformed the lives of thousands of families at various well-located developments around the metro, including Maitland Mews, Bothasig Gardens, Goodwood Station and the Western Cape Government’s Conradie Park in Pinelands, according to Councillor Pophaim.
Also read:
Parts of Mowbray Golf Course greenlit for mixed-use development
Picture: Geordin Hill-Lewis / Facebook
