With the continual demand for  property  farther and farther north, it is understandable, especially with the new business node in Umhlanga, that the demand for  property  in Ballito cannot be met by the current stock.

But more than straightforward residential  property , development company eLan Group has identified the need for a resort-based leisure kind of  property .

Says Mark Taylor, CEO of the eLan Group: "With Ballito becoming increasingly residential, the development of satellite suburbs was inevitable.

Identifying Blythedale as a possible development site satisfies not only the need for land along the north coast, but places the development near a suitable support base of the growing commerce sector nearby."

As an eLan initiative, Blythedale Coastal Resort aims to transform land that is currently under agriculture into a resort complex that offers an expansive experience for those seeking a leisure environment along the coast.

The Blythedale Coastal Resort will be divided into five different sections.

Blythedale Ocean will offer a limited amount of freehold sites situated on the top ridge of the development.

Located on a 3km stretch of private beach, homes will enjoy both ocean and forest views.

This section will also include three beach nodes incorporating sand bars, beach bars, braai areas, restaurants and lounges in an effort to create a beach resort vibe.

In addition there is a hotel site that has been zoned for a 200 room complex.

As the development is focused on creating a family oriented resort, a theme park will be developed in the valley behind the hotel which will include a children's adventure park, a water theme park and tree housing creating an environment where the "kid is king".

The Blythedale farm, which has been in the same family for four generations, will soon become home to a variety of forest residences.

The magnificent 320ha lowland natural coastal forest is currently overgrown; however an emphasis has been placed on restoring and maintaining the habitat, biodiversity and function of the forest area.

In addition, the developers have provided assurance that the homes situated around the forest node and the construction thereof will not impact upon the forest in any way.

Sectional title units will be developed around the Blythedale Golf sector of the resort, which have been designed around the village concept with units grouped around central courtyards, piazzas and park-like systems.

The 18-hole championship course will be designed by SA's Ernie Els.

The smallest of the estates, Blythedale Equestrian, will be made up of 30 large freehold sites integrated with equestrian facilities.

The fifth section of the Blythedale Coastal Resort is a social housing component, one that Taylor describes as the most exciting initiative.

Named Blythedale Hills, this will be a section that the eLan Group has allocated for the construction of social housing, which has been undertaken along with numerous interactions with the housing ministry.

It is said that this social housing project will possibly become the blueprint for other similar projects throughout SA.

Blythedale Coastal Resort also aims to introduce a Sporting School of Excellence, a concept that has been welcomed by the Ilembe Municipality as there is no such facility currently on the north coast.

Then there is the wellness centre and spa and let's face it, no resort would be complete without one!

eLan also plans 25000m² of retail therapy space in a retail and commercial complex that will possibly include educational facilities, supermarkets and a range of coffee shops and other entertainment facilities.

A planned retirement centre will consist of 200 units along with a state-of-the-art medical centre, while the environmental centre and nature reserve will include the likes of nature trails, a birding hide, wildlife sanctuary, education centre and the list continues.

Blythedale Coastal Resort hopes to contribute positively both to the demand for all kinds of  property  along the KwaZulu-Natal north coast and to the current unemployment and poverty issues that the iLembe district continues to face, despite the growth of surrounding areas in recent years.

To date, 55 sites are still available in phase 1, with the remaining 454 either sold or reserved.

Business Day