Laren Beni, 36, is an architect with imagination and a lot of vacant land in Durban.

Beni, KZN manager of the parastatal Propnet, has a plan he believes will sing: it is to transform 10 hectares of plum land on the north side of Edwin Swales Drive into a destination in Durban south.

He wants to turn the band of mostly vacant land running along the road into the Bluff, into offices and a lifestyle/convenience centre akin to Umgeni Business Park in Springfield.

Actually, the plan is based on Beni's successful transformation of Springfield, a development he spearheaded in conjunction with the private sector when he headed up Intersite, another railway related parastatal.

That was 10 years ago: now Springfield Park is synonymous with home improvement shopping and also a host of funky advertising, printing and allied businesses that have flocked to the area on the fringes of the CBD.

Beni believes Durban south is about to experience a similar take off and as the sole land-owner on the north side of Edwin Swales Drive, between the N3 Southern Freeway and the Bluff, he is the man to lead the charge.

The area is attractive for a number of reasons, not least because it boasts a captive audience: all the people driving home to the Bluff.

Propnet has already built a Wimpy, car dealership Baron's South Fleet and a BP garage on the land in question, but there are hectares still vacant, and some warehouses which can be converted.

Adjacent to these buildings is an eight-storey office block that is mostly let, at about R25/m2.

It is the old headquarters of the Transnet mechanical engineering division Transwerk and boasts an adjoining multi-level parking lot.

Propnet has spent R25 million in the area so far and plans to spend another R70 million, erecting five new buildings and renovating a massive shed so that a total of 50 000 m2 is available to rent.

"The vacant land is mostly unused and costs us in maintenance, grass cutting and rates," says Beni. "With the buildings we have already erected we are generating rents of about R2 million a year, so this is a viable proposition for us.

"We plan to doll up the shed with new facades, mezzanine floors and restore some of the stunning roof trusses and brickwork. We are thinking of a lifestyle centre, with furniture and home related shops designed along studio lines. There is also scope for sports outlets and computer and hi-fi shops.

"We have ample parking and then three big parcels of vacant land adjacent to the shed. One of these would be suitable for a convenience shopping centre.

"We are talking to a well established Durban printing company interested in the back plot; it's a business that will probably attract similar satellite companies to the area. And a listed retail outfit is keen on the third plot."

Beni says the venture should be enhanced by existing businesses on the southern side of Edwin Swales, mostly dedicated to the auto trade.

"This development should brighten up the Bluff quite a bit. We have a situation that is very similar to Springfield. We will be talking to the city about putting up two sets of four-way traffic lights to access our vast land holdings.

"We are hoping to break ground in the new year," said Beni. - The Mercury