A new non-racial suburb is rapidly taking shape at Kidds Beach, where 100 families are now ensconced in free-standing homes in the first phases of the multi-billion rand Umlele development.
The new arrivals in the beachfront village – split 60-40 between black and white buyers – include many single parent families who have bought into the “gated estate” concept and professionals working in Bhisho.
Interestingly, the average age of homeowners is 32 – exactly the demographic the developers are targeting to embed the suburb in the long-term.
The first phases have only free-standing houses with free title, while a next phase will have sectional title in a complex. Soon, a convenience shopping centre will go up, with plans to be open for Christmas trading this year.
The developers have also built two classrooms – to be used for Grade R learners – at the local primary school to make provision for new families in the area while they plan for a private school which they hope will open next year.
The first 110 units out of 600 in a retirement centre, Umlele Springs, will be marketed from May as part of what the developers say will be the biggest retirement facility in the city – and already there is huge interest from black families looking to future retirement.
The retirement complex will offer free title, life rights and rental units.
The project initially had a five-year development timeframe but developer Tjaart van der Walt says the response from the market to secure, affordable homes within easy reach of the beach has been so positive that contract periods had been halved.
“We’ve done 112 transfers to date out of what will eventually be a R692-million investment in the Umlele Heights section of the overall development. “We’ve raised the bar on affordable housing. This is not an RDP-type development,” he said.
In total, with more upmarket and even luxury hillside mansions with views of the sea, the new suburb will have 2600 housing units.
The overall development will cost R5-billion in total, with R200-million budgeted to be spent this year alone.
Van der Walt said the development funding model also needed to be re-assessed as the bankers agreed to funding based on the five-year horizon, rather than the fast-tracked 30 months.
And in a swipe at developers who had gone ahead without getting building approvals from Buffalo City Van der Walt said his company, Mission Holdings, had had excellent co-operation from all departments in the metro.
“We have service level agreements in place,” he said simply, adding that officials from the metro had been very impressed with the developers’ vision and execution. For many people working in Bhisho, the 45km drive between the provincial capital and Kidds Beach is less than travelling to other parts of East London.
The developers are exploring putting a shuttle service on the road to East London using a local taxi operator.
R5bn boost for Kidds Beach
The new arrivals in the beachfront village – split 60-40 between black and white buyers – include many single parent families who have bought into the “gated estate” concept and professionals working in Bhisho.
Interestingly, the average age of homeowners is 32 – exactly the demographic the developers are targeting to embed the suburb in the long-term.
The first phases have only free-standing houses with free title, while a next phase will have sectional title in a complex. Soon, a convenience shopping centre will go up, with plans to be open for Christmas trading this year.
The developers have also built two classrooms – to be used for Grade R learners – at the local primary school to make provision for new families in the area while they plan for a private school which they hope will open next year.
The first 110 units out of 600 in a retirement centre, Umlele Springs, will be marketed from May as part of what the developers say will be the biggest retirement facility in the city – and already there is huge interest from black families looking to future retirement.
The retirement complex will offer free title, life rights and rental units.
The project initially had a five-year development timeframe but developer Tjaart van der Walt says the response from the market to secure, affordable homes within easy reach of the beach has been so positive that contract periods had been halved.
“We’ve done 112 transfers to date out of what will eventually be a R692-million investment in the Umlele Heights section of the overall development. “We’ve raised the bar on affordable housing. This is not an RDP-type development,” he said.
In total, with more upmarket and even luxury hillside mansions with views of the sea, the new suburb will have 2600 housing units.
The overall development will cost R5-billion in total, with R200-million budgeted to be spent this year alone.
Van der Walt said the development funding model also needed to be re-assessed as the bankers agreed to funding based on the five-year horizon, rather than the fast-tracked 30 months.
And in a swipe at developers who had gone ahead without getting building approvals from Buffalo City Van der Walt said his company, Mission Holdings, had had excellent co-operation from all departments in the metro.
“We have service level agreements in place,” he said simply, adding that officials from the metro had been very impressed with the developers’ vision and execution. For many people working in Bhisho, the 45km drive between the provincial capital and Kidds Beach is less than travelling to other parts of East London.
The developers are exploring putting a shuttle service on the road to East London using a local taxi operator.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos