The GOOD Party has expressed concerns over Cape Town's ambitious plan to complete the Foreshore's unfinished highways, citing a lack of information on costs and housing. On October 2, 2026, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis unveiled a proposal to unlock land for a new neighborhood, including a new bridge, underground tunnel, and 15 hectares of developable land. However, the party questions what residents may have to pay for the project, which still has no final price tag.
The City of Cape Town's proposal involves a two-phase development, with the first phase including the widening of the inbound freeway and construction of a new link bridge over Buitengracht. Three land parcels would become available for a new residential area. The second phase would feature an outbound bridge and tunnel, demolition of the existing elevated outbound freeway, and creation of a promenade, parks, and further development land. Construction of the larger phase could run until 2040.
GOOD secretary-general and Cape Town mayoral candidate Brett Herron stated that basic questions about the plan, such as cost, funding, and affordable housing, should be answered before presenting the proposal to residents. Herron argued that without such information, the plan appears to be "hollow election-linked puffery." He also questioned the funding model, pointing to a previous attempt to develop the Foreshore freeways under former mayor Patricia de Lille.
The earlier Foreshore project, which sought a private-sector partner to build transport infrastructure and housing in return for development rights on City land, was ultimately cancelled in 2018. Herron noted that elements of the new proposal, including a freeway tunnel and harbour promenade, had featured in the earlier process. However, he argued that the DA-led City had dropped the part that made the plan affordable: private funding.
Mayor Hill-Lewis has stated that there is still "a lot of work to do and a long way to go," with public consultation, detailed engineering, and procurement still ahead. The City says construction of the first phase is intended to start during the next council term. However, Herron questioned who would carry the financial risk if the proposed tunnel costs more than anticipated.
The City is still engaging Transnet over Port Authority land required for the proposed tunnel, while it has promised affordable housing without specifying the number of units to be delivered. Herron emphasized that residents need to know the answers to these basic questions before the plan can be considered viable.
The Foreshore development plan has sparked debate over funding, cost, and housing. While the City aims to unlock land for a new neighborhood, concerns remain about the financial implications and feasibility of the project. Key aspects, such as the funding model and number of affordable housing units, remain unclear.
Key points
- GOOD Party questions Cape Town's Foreshore plan over cost and housing.
- City's proposal involves a two-phase development with a new bridge, tunnel, and 15 hectares of developable land.
- Previous Foreshore project was cancelled in 2018 due to lack of private funding.
