The group purchased a 200 ha sugar-cane farm, named Alray, specifically to meet its plans to provide 440 homes under the classification of social housing, which would constitute 20% of the overall development.

Overall, 1 200 units are planned for the site, which includes affordable subsidised housing.

The owners will have access to the same level of amenities planned for the rest of the development, which includes municipal services.
The houses will be 30 m² (as per governmental guidelines for low-cost housing) to 80 m². Price will range between R30 000 and R250 000, which caters for low-income earners.

The developers say the allocation was not an after thought, but part of the original plan two years ago.

The group is working closely with the housing department on the blueprint, to ensure access to financing for the houses.

èLan Group CEO Mark Taylor says this was a good opportunity for a big developer to show that it's possible to have a mixed community.
"We tried to really make a statement that this is possible. The provision for social housing was part of the concept of the development from the very beginning.

"The concept of integration can work harmoniously ."

Integrated communities tend to raise concerns about the cheaper homes lowering the prices of the expensive ones and the notion that the people who buy the homes may not share the same values.
Taylor says sensitivities around this ha ve been taken into consideration.

"We have kept in mind that the concept should not pull down the value of the property, which is always a concern for investors.

"Some of the houses will actually be in the estate and the others on the bo rder of the development. This will add value, not necessarily in a monetary sense, but in a social sense, as we will have people working and living together."

èLan group project manager Shayne Isbister says so far they have generally received a positive reaction for the planning.

"People are positive about the development, though we have to look at the layout. It is narrow-minded to not see the benefits of this kind of development."