SOUTH Durban may soon get its first regional mall, depending on whether rezoning rights are granted. The 75000m² shopping centre will form part of a R1,5bn mixed-use project at the Umbogintwini Golf Course and Umbogintwini Village near Amanzimtoti.

The R1,5bn development, which includes the mall, is by far the biggest development for the southern area of Durban.

Louis Peens, CEO of the developments division of developers Keystone Investments, said yesterday they believed the south of Durban was "ripe for development" and had been neglected in the past by developers.

The 93ha estate was sold by AECI to Johannesburg-based Keystone Investments for R60m.

The sale is subject to guarantees being lodged by the end of December, and the development is on condition that the land is rezoned for mixed use and hinges on an environmental impact report.

The five-phase of the project will, when completed, consist of about 800 middle-income residential units, a retirement village, 90000m² of retail space and 20000m² of commercial space.

Peens said the mixeduse development was aimed at creating a "live, work and play environment". He was confident the development would work, given the provisional demographic studies that have been completed.

He said preliminary evidence suggested a 75000m² mall would be comfortably supported. Keystone Investments had commissioned a detailed demographic study to prove that there was a need for a retail development in the area.

Peens said they would like to complete the development by October 2007, but this was dependent on receiving town planning approval, which includes rezoning approval and environmental impact studies.

Keystone Investments were planning a retail value centre of between 15000m² and 20000m² for the remainder of the retail component of the development.

Peens said that more companies would be involved in the development, and that it would have a black economic empowerment partner.