The complex, Mt Richemore Village Estate, is situated about 15 minutes north of the new King Shaka International Airport and Dube Trade Port.

The development aims to rejuvenate both business and tourism in the Salt Rock area.

Estate project manager Andre Badenhorst says the development is about creating a community that is entirely self-sufficient.

In addition to residential complexes, there will be a retirement/ lifestyle village, a public shopping meander, school site, office village, hotel and a tram service.

Badenhorst says the shopping meander will be a key attraction. Depicting an “old Natal village” style setting, it will include narrow cobblestone streets, shops on the ground floor and homes above.

Residential unit prices start at R685000 for a freehold site and R295000 for intermediate residential opportunities.

Secondary developers and individual buyers can have a share of the 188ha development.

“There are approximately 2200 opportunities available for property developers,” says Badenhorst.

The infrastructure for phases one and two is complete, the site and sales office has been built and the helipad is fully operational.

Badenhorst says the group has managed to achieve all targets without having to approach any financial institutions for funding.

“Although the infrastructure for phase one and two is complete, we have also made provisions for the phase three infrastructure to be fast-tracked should a secondary developer wish to have the hotel and eco-lodge sites completed in time for the 2010 Soccer World Cup,” says Badenhorst.

Gerald Venter, marketing manager of Mt Richemore Village Estate, says the benefits of this development will be the improvement of infrastructure for the area including Salt Rock residents.

The developers will build a public road and improve ablution and shower facilities at the nearby secondary beach.

The project will also create 3300 permanent jobs as a result of the facilities and services that the development will offer once completed.

The developers, The Lutzkie Group and RRI, began onsite operations in March and hope to see the first residents move on site by the second half of next year.

Phase one will be completed this Friday, and phase two is due for completion by February 15.

Source: Business Day