CONSTRUCTION on the new Trade Route Mall in Lenasia is well under way, with 80% of the 45000m² already let.

The mall, a joint venture between Investec Property Group and well-known Lenasia businessmen Ismail Valli and Sayed Mia, is being built at a cost of nearly R400m.

Investec Property Group’s Steve Grupel, who is handling the letting for the project, and Farrel Osher, who is in charge of the development, says they are on target to open the centre in March next year.

"Everything is running smoothly," they say.

"We are also providing substantial upgrades to the road network in and around the centre at a cost of more than R10m."

Grupel says they are now busy negotiating with line shops.

"The national retailers will take up half of the shops, and local and smaller tenants will take the other half," he says.

Although there are three other shopping centres either planned or being built in Soweto, Grupel and Osher say these will not affect the Trade Route Mall’s primary catchment area.

"Our primary catchment area includes Lenasia, parts of Eldorado Park, Ennerdale and parts of Soweto. A lot of the other developments are strip centres and the big one is in central Soweto," says Grupel and Osher.

The Trade Route Mall, located on the corner of K43 and Nirvana Drive, will consist of two shopping levels.

Located on the lower level will be a Pick ’n Pay, convenience stores, a food court with sit-down and take-away eateries and a market emporium hosting a range of small informal traders.

The upper level will house the entertainment component, including six cinemas, and restaurants and coffee shops.

The fashion component is anchored by Woolworths and Edgars.

Among the other features is a prayer room.

Provision has been made to build the Nishtara Clinic, a drug rehabilitation centre southeast of the development.