Umhlanga development to provide 65700 jobs 
Edward West
KwaZulu-Natal Correspondent

DURBAN — The Umhlanga Triangle development spearheaded by Moreland, the property development arm of Tongaat-Hulett Group, would pump more than R8bn into KwaZulu-Natal and link the Ridge to Umhlanga village.

In the past decade, Moreland has developed about 1200ha of sugar cane land resulting in investment of about R11bn in the Umhlanga Ridge town centre, north of Durban.

Moreland Developments’ commercial and industrial development director, Mike Deighton, yesterday said the development would be between the Gateway shopping complex and the sea, “probably the best site in SA after Table Mountain”.

The 140ha development would generate 65700 construction-related jobs, translating into 16400 permanent jobs and a rates base for the eThekwini municipality of about R50m a year.

The R8bn investment included only buildings, infrastructure and services. Further downstream benefits would be “massive”, he said.

About 40ha would be preserved as “green space” and sea and forest views would be maximised.

Some downstream commercial developments are already earmarked for Umhlanga Triangle. These include a R1,3bn, 150-room Marriott Hotel which is expected to open in 2008 — the international group’s first foray into Africa; a regional head office for Investec; 10000m² for a Mr Price concept store; and 40000m² for a Zenprop “Design Quarter” — similar to the home and decor concept piloted in Fourways, Johannesburg.

Deighton said there was big demand for space at the Ridgeside Office Park precinct, opposite La Lucia Ridge Office Estate. Construction on the 100000m² office park would start early next year.

A residential precinct would include 2000 units which would entail a combination of high-density apartments, including a 30-story apartment block, medium-density townhouses and low-density houses bordering the coastal forest.

Road developments were likely to begin before the end of the year, pending approvals.