A proposed retirement village on PRASA-owned land in St James has sparked concerns among residents over heritage protection and public amenities. The development, part of a R3.6 billion property development initiative by PRASA, is situated between St James railway station and the main road in the St James/Kalk Bay area. Residents are questioning the impact on the area's heritage sites and public amenities.
The proposed development is one of six Western Cape development opportunities awarded to private sector partners by PRASA's real estate company, Intersite, last month. Residents have expressed concerns over the heritage status of the site, the proposed buildings, and the potential impact on the coastline. Rex Schelling, representing concerned St James residents, said that as far as they were aware, no planning or heritage applications had been lodged.
Schelling stated that the site sits inside the Muizenberg–St James–Kalk Bay heritage overlay and includes City-graded heritage elements. Any development will need City planning approval, a Heritage Western Cape process, and public participation. Residents have formally asked Intersite for information and will submit a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) request for the details that have not been made public.
A resident, who asked to remain anonymous, expressed concern that the tender described the property as “vacant land and existing buildings”, without mentioning its heritage status or public amenities. The resident also noted that the artist's impression released by Intersite shows a near-continuous row of apartment blocks along the seafront, with three storeys of flats on columns over parking.
The City of Cape Town has confirmed that no planning application has been submitted for the project. City spokesperson Unathi Kondile said the City's Development Management Department had not received any land use application or application for a pre-submission meeting relating to the alleged St James development.
Kondile stated that any proposed development of the site would be subject to the necessary statutory planning processes and approvals. A land use application would be required, should the proposal necessitate land use rights or departures from the existing approved rights. The city will widely advertise any such application to give interested and affected parties an opportunity to review the proposal and submit comments or objections.
PRASA had not responded to questions at the time of publication, and its comment will be added once received. The concerns raised by residents highlight the need for careful consideration of the potential impact of the proposed development on the area's heritage and public amenities.
Key points
- The proposed development is part of a R3.6 billion property development initiative by PRASA.
- Residents have expressed concerns over the heritage status of the site and the potential impact on public amenities.
- The City of Cape Town has confirmed that no planning application has been submitted for the project.
