Development of three city blocks in Durban's Point Road has been frozen for six months in terms of a provisional declaration secured by the KwaZulu-Natal Heritage Council last week.

The move will allow the eThekwini municipality to adjust its town planning scheme to balance the nearby Point waterfront development against historical and architectural heritage interests, as well as give Durban stakeholders the opportunity to give input. The declaration was served on the owners of the affected buildings on Friday.

The three blocks, known as the warehouse group, have high historical and architectural merit many of the buildings date to the 1890s. They include 10 listed buildings and other Point area landmarks such as the Seafarers' Club (circa 1903) and the Alexandra Hotel (circa 1879).

"This provisional declaration is designed to allow a full and open debate by all stakeholders as to how these historical assets should be utilised. That includes those of us who are charged with protection of the built environment (as) the declaration was recommended by our built environment committee," heritage council chairman Arthur Konigkramer said.

The Point was of "special historical importance" to Durban and care had to be taken that development enhanced its tourism appeal, he said.

"We also owe it to developers, who are prepared to invest more than R1bn in the new Point precinct, to ensure their investment is not devalued by ad hoc development just outside the precinct."

Since the public-private partnership between the council and Moreland Developments was launched last year, properties in the Point area have been changing hands briskly.

The council has received a flurry of development applications and Konigkramer said the development freeze would "slow things down a bit and give everyone a chance to consider properly before something is done" that would be regretted later.

The municipality also required time to reconsider its town planning regulations and make amendments.

"(The heritage council is) not against development. We just need to get the right historical and architectural balance," Konigkramer said.

The new owners of the Alexandra Hotel, formerly Smugglers' Inn, have proposed retaining the old facade yet providing a large, new building.

"Without passing judgment in this particular case, that is the sort of approach we are looking for because it would enhance the area," Konigkramer said.

Business Day