After 18 months and much negotiation between the City of Johannesburg and property owners, SAPOA has decided to withdraw its appeal against the Johannesburg Consolidated Town Planning Scheme 2011.

North West Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs says its recently assembled town planning support forum will stimulate development in the province.

There is a desperate shortage of affordable rental stock in the Bloemfontein/Manguang Metro area, with flat rentals continuing to rise strongly despite the general weakness of the economy.

It has never been easy to get a new project launched and the plain truth is that developers have to be some of the most persevering people in the entire construction sector. It is opined that at this stage in South Africa’s economic history, far too few new projects are being launched, to the detriment of the entire residential sector. Setting out of the process, along with some of the realistic challenges, may however encourage owners sitting on land to consider its potential and further development.