The densification of Cape Town’s southern suburbs can have significant benefits for all, according to Rawson Developers.
Paul Henry, managing director of Rawson Developers says the Cape Town City Council policy of encouraging the densification of certain Cape Peninsula suburbs and residential areas, especially those close to major roads and public transport, should not be seen as retrogressive, insensitive or necessarily harmful to existing residents’ interests.
Paul Henry, managing director of Rawson Developers says the Cape Town City Council policy of encouraging the densification of certain Cape Peninsula suburbs and residential areas, especially those close to major roads and public transport, should not be seen as retrogressive, insensitive or necessarily harmful to existing residents’ interests.
He notes that it can initially be upsetting for locals to discover that an area, which previously had only single or double storey buildings, will now be given one or two buildings with five or six storeys.
Henry explains that often, the new building will be surrounded by well laid-out, professionally landscaped gardens and attractive communal facilities.
Such buildings also offer occupants better protection and more social interaction than they were ever able to achieve in freestanding homes with their own gardens.
In almost every case with which we have been associated, the new development adds substantially to the value of all the other homes in the area - and this is a factor which must be appreciated, he says.
As a result of Rawson Developers’ high profile activities in the Rondebosch area (The Rondebosch, River’s Edge and Rondebosch Oaks), they are increasingly approached by homeowners wishing to sell their homes.
Rawson Developers have therefore been able to acquire land for new projects in the Rondebosch/Claremont precinct and at least three new developments will keep the Rawson construction team active until 2015.
Certain new projects fall within urban conservation zones.
In these cases, development is only permitted if Heritage Western Cape give their approval and are allowed to guide and advise the development and all objections have to be considered and discussed with local residents, he says.
These objections add anything from two to four years to the time it takes to launch a project and they inevitably result in the cost of the units being significantly increased.
In many cases, the objection will lead to the abandonment or a complete redesign of the scheme - in most cases reducing its size very noticeably, he says.
Where, however, a site has been zoned General Residential 4, the developer has only to comply with the City Council’s zoning rules.
These have always been carefully thought out by dedicated professionals at the council and provided there are no departures from the parameters laid down by the City Council, they are obliged to approve any scheme which complies with the rulings.
In these cases, objections and complaints, although always noted and listened to, are unlikely to have much impact on the outcome or look of the development, he says.
Henry adds that if people are worried about forthcoming multi-storey projects in the area they should, before buying, consult the City Council zonings that set out very clearly which areas are earmarked for densification and which will be left in perpetuity.
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