The City of Cape Town has approved plans to transform parts of the King David Mowbray Golf Course into a mixed-use development that will incorporate affordable housing options, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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The City’s Mayoral Committee has approved the start of a public participation process for the mixed-use development of portions of Mowbray Golf Course, pending City Council approval later this month.
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The King David Mowbray Golf Course, located north of the N2 Freeway, will be partially redeveloped for mixed-use development, including affordable housing, due to its prime access to employment hubs and amenities.
Following the expiration of its long-term lease in 2022, the golf club signed a new ten-year lease in May 2024, featuring a two-year cancellation clause for municipal infrastructure planning, reports Property Wheel.
The activist organisation and law centre, Ndifuna Ukwazi, welcomed the news of the cancellation clause in April, emphasising that this commitment to inclusive development is a significant victory.
This follows years of advocacy aimed at ensuring this public land is utilised more justly, efficiently, and sustainably.
In their April press release, Ndifuna Ukwazi highlighted that the 49.5-hectare site is equivalent to a small suburb or 49 rugby fields, with the potential to transform the lives of hundreds of families while providing genuine public space and accessible amenities without high membership fees.
However, concerns linger about whether this will become another project that exists only on paper, if feasibility and preparatory work will extend beyond a decade, and whether affordable housing will be prioritized to benefit as many people as possible.
The and has a market value of R171 million, as determined by a March 2024 desktop valuation.
Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, James Vos, says: ‘Development rights will be offered to the market through an open and competitive process with the City conducting a comprehensive land-use application to secure a suite of mixed-use development rights to unlock the site’s full potential.’
‘Revenue from the land sale will contribute to the municipality’s budget.’
Since 2015, the municipality has studied the potential for mixed-use development at and around the King David Mowbray Golf Course, concluding a pre-feasibility study in 2022 and incorporating development guidelines into the 2023 Table Bay District Plan.
The initial redevelopment phase will focus on the north of the railway line, bordered by the Pinelands suburb and Elsieskraal canal, and another tract outside the golf course, bounded by the N2 and Jan Smuts Drive.
The southern portion, including the clubhouse and has accessibility challenges, will be considered in future phases.
Following the City’s 2009 Floodplain and River Corridor Management Policy, areas below the 1:100-year flood zone will remain designated as open space to preserve the natural river system.
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