Following public consultation, Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee approved the release of land for affordable housing development in Lansdowne and Ottery, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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These properties are scheduled to be distributed through an open, competitive tendering process, subject City Council approval later this month.
Over 680 social housing units might be built on the Ottery and Lansdowne sites, which are now unoccupied and underutilised.
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Ottery Road is a significant arterial route that borders Enslin, Crescent, and Sauer Roads. The 1.6-hectare land has the capacity to accommodate 375 social housing units in a two to four-story construction.
The Lansdowne property is located on the corner of Smuts and Ruby Roads, near Imam Haroun Road. The 1,4ha plot has the capacity for 308 social housing units over four floors.
‘Hundreds more families are set to benefit as our priority programme for well-located affordable housing land release continues its momentum with these Lansdowne and Ottery sites. In the first two years of our programme, we have already released sites with a yield of over 4 200 affordable units, including in Cape Town’s inner city and other well-located economic nodes,’ said Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
Social housing provides safe, high-quality living situations to economically active households that can afford to pay rent to assure the property’s upkeep and maintenance.
To assist developers in maximising affordable housing output, new City guidelines will be applied to reduce the land sale price. The Ottery and Lansdowne properties are believed to be worth R56 million on the market.
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The sale of these properties will also include a stipulation requiring the land to be used for affordable housing by permitting the properties to revert to City ownership if this goal is not realised.
Aside from the mandated public engagement period, open days were hosted on August 24 and 31, 2024, to offer information about the site disposal process, proposed property development, and the City’s affordable housing strategy.
These meetings were also useful in gathering feedback from residents, which will be considered during the development planning process.
To prepare for land release, the parcels will be rezoned, and portions of the properties’ public places will be closed where necessary to allow the social housing development.
Carl Pophaim, a member of the Mayoral Committee for Human Settlements, stated that the City’s affordable housing pipeline comprises land parcels that are expected to provide over 12 000 residential options around the metro.
‘We look forward to enabling many more affordable housing opportunities. These have proven to be a game changer for the thousands of families already tenanted at various well-located developments around the metro, including Maitland Mews in the inner city, Bothasig Gardens, Goodwood Station, and the Western Cape Government’s Conradie Park development in Pinelands,’ said Pophaim.
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Picture: Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis/Facebook