Newcastle Mall will comprise a first phase of 35 000m2 of GLA situated on 21 ha of land adjacent to the Black Rock Casino and Hotel on the corner of Oak Avenue and the Ladysmith Road and within close proximity to the intersection with the N11. Ground works on this R 400m development are scheduled to commence in early January 2011, with completion of the shopping centre set for the first quarter of 2012.
The 3rd largest city in Kwazulu Natal, Newcastle is the administrative and economic powerhouse of the Amajuba district, playing host to a number of well developed economic sectors including agriculture, industrial (Arcelor Mittal Steel, Karbochem, synthetic rubber), mining (coal) and manufacturing (aluminium, leather, textiles, clothing, cement and automotive). In addition, Newcastle is ideally located within close proximity to the N11, one of the main transportation routes of goods and services between Durban and Gauteng.
“Yet despite its thriving economy and excellent growth potential, Newcastle as the regional hub of the Amajuba district and northern Kwa-zulu Natal has no major regional shopping centre. Currently the immediate customer base of Newcastle of some 500 000 residents have to make do with fragmented retail within the town’s CBD, or drive 240kms to Pietermaritzburg to the region’s only large scale shopping mall” said Greg Field - Divisional Director of Zenprop. “Hence our decision to purchase the land and develop a substantial regional shopping centre offering choice, convenience, and a one-stop shopping destination that will service not only Newcastle but the region at large” he said.
“We initially anticipated a regional centre of around 25 000m2, but following the response from the major and national retail chains, we increased the size to 35 000m2, with the potential to grow our GLA in the 2nd phase by a further 15 000m2” he said.
The centre, which will accommodate approximately 100 stores, will be anchored by Checkers, Pick n Pay, Game, Edgars, and Woolworths. “Market response has been excellent so far, and we’ve already signed up a number of leading South African retailers including Ackerman’s, Boardmans, Jet, C.N.A, Legit, Clicks, Pep, Mr Price, Milady’s, Foschini, Markham, Total Sport, Exact, American Swiss, Identity, and Truworths”, said Hildegarde Riphagen of Zenprop’s Retail Leasing division.
Comprising a single level of prime retail space within a generously proportioned, naturally lit, closed structure, Newcastle Mall will offer its stable and increasingly affluent market a safe, comprehensively tenanted and convenient shopping destination, with abundant surface parking set in an open tray format. All retail and service related categories will be well represented. Physically, the centre promises Zenprop’s characteristic high quality of finish, with impeccable landscaping, abundant natural light, and extensive use of materials, form, and nuance that are representative of the region’s rich cultural and natural heritage.
Zenprop has an auspicious history in retail property development, having developed 250 000m2 of retail space over the past six years, including Athol Square in Sandton, Design Quarter in Fourways, Maponya Mall in Soweto, Vangate and Zevenwacht Malls in Cape Town and the redevelopment of Jacaranda and Sunnypark Malls in Pretoria. Known for their pioneering spirit and innovative approach to property development, Zenprop will make greening and environmental efficiency a key driver of the design and construction of Newcastle Mall. “All effort will be made to maximize efficiencies with regard to water and power consumption, and reduce our carbon footprint as much as possible”, said Field.
Publisher: eProp
Source: ZPH
