Golding Commercial Properties has achieved strong growth in its commercial, industrial and retail activities with transactions in excess of R200 million concluded over the past four months to December.

Sales recently concluded by GCP include the following properties: l A prominent commercial building of 3 250m2 in Bellville south, sold for R2.1 million and now developed into the almost fully let Kasselsvlei Industrial Park;

l Prime office space and corporate accommodation at the Foundry, the new lifestyle and design centre in Green Point with direct access to the Waterfront, to an international investor;

l The Gordon's Bay Spar sold for R3.2 million; l A well-located Observatory shopping centre sold for R2.6 million and which is being redeveloped, and; l The 1 900m2 Textile Centre in Searle Street, Woodstock, which was sold for R1.45 million.

Leasing and management transactions concluded by GCP include: l The first deal in the new Clocktower Office building at the V&A Waterfront, comprising an entire floor (over 620m2) of A-grade office space let to a UK-based IT company, with a capital value of R4.2 million;

l A major transaction for 6 500m2 in the Waterfront precinct; l The management contract for the 5 100m2 Nautica office block at the Water Club complex, Granger Bay (overlooking the Waterfront) for a listed property fund, and;

l A 7 000m2 industrial warehouse in Sacks Circle, Bellville, leased on behalf of the USA Brush Company, with a capital value of R3.5 million.

GCP chief executive Peter Golding said this significant growth had been achieved through a concerted marketing drive as well as a repositioning in the marketplace, and that the revitalised organisation had not allowed itself to be dictated to by difficult market conditions experienced over the past year.

'However, particularly given the volatility in equities there is considerable confidence in the property market place, and there are investors out there seeking property opportunities at the right price, as well as opportunities for redevelopment.

Having focused on positioning ourselves in the marketplace in order to effectively and efficiently provide these opportunities to investors and developers, we are finding our services are increasingly sought after,' Golding said.

Boosting the company's performance is the recent appointment of Chris Immelman to head up GCP's broking sales division,who is also focusing on building the development management business.

A former lawyer who has 10 years of experience in property development with Stocks Properties as marketing director, he has been involved in prominent developments such as Grand Central Shopping Centre in Cape Town's CBD, Portswood Square at the Waterfront and Alphen Park in Constantia.

Immelman was also development manager of Longbeach Mall at Noordhoek, acting on behalf of TCI Properties, and is currently a retail consultant to various institutions and on projects such as Lifestyles on Kloof in the City Bowl.

Adds Golding: 'We now have the expertise to provide a full range of property development management services right through the property spectrum.

These include identifying and unlocking the potential in greenfields projects - from researching and securing the land, rezoning, sourcing finance, advising on layout and managing the entire project.

This takes a huge weight off developers and owners, many of whom are moving towards outsourcing as this is being seen to be far more cost effective, particularly given the cyclical market conditions.'

Immelman added: 'The forthcoming opening of Cape Town's new Convention Centre, coupled with the high desirability of space in the Waterfront precinct, is contributing to a groundswell of confidence in the entire city as a live / work environment.

This burgeoning growth and development, right from the Waterfront up through the CBD, is seeing Cape Town buck the trend experienced elsewhere in South Africa as it emerges as one of the great cities in the world.'