Top SA golf course greenlit for ‘affordable’ housing
The City of Cape Town has greenlit the release of portions of the King David Mowbray Golf Course for mixed-use development to include affordable housing.
According to the Property Wheel website, the golf course is north of the N2 Freeway, offering prime access to key employment hubs, amenities, and residential areas with portions of the site identified as suitable for integrated, mixed-use development.
‘Cancellation clause’
Following the expiration of its long-term lease in 2022, the current tenant, King David Mowbray Golf Club, entered a new 10-year lease in May 2024.
A key feature of the agreement is a two-year cancellation clause that provides the City with flexibility for the planning of municipal infrastructure upgrades.
The portions of land, totalling 42.8 hectares, have a market value of R171 million based on a desktop valuation conducted in March 2024.
Development rights will be offered to the market through an open and competitive process with the City conducting a comprehensive land-use application to secure a suite of mixed-use development rights to unlock the site’s full potential.
Revenue from the land sale will contribute to the municipality’s budget, says Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth.
The municipality has conducted studies since 2015 on the potential for a mixed-use development within and adjacent to the site.
A pre-feasibility study concluded in 2022 with development guides incorporated in the 2023 Table Bay District Plan.
Two main tracts of land
The initial phase of redevelopment will focus on two main tracts of land; the first is north of the railway line, bordered by the Pinelands suburb and Elsieskraal canal.
The second tract is not part of the golf course, and it is bounded by the N2 and Jan Smuts Drive.
The portion south of the railway line, which houses the golf clubhouse, faces significant accessibility challenges and will be considered in future phases.
In line with the City’s 2009 Floodplain and River Corridor Management Policy, portions of these sites below the 1:100-year flood zone and will remain designated as open space, preserving the natural green and blue infrastructure functioning of the river system.
The current lessee, a registered Not-for-Profit organisation, is responsible for the estimated R6 million annual maintenance and security cost of the property, aside from the +R12 000 per annum golf tariff applicable to all City-owned courses for the 2024/2025 financial year.
Over the years, the current lessee has made significant contributions to the property’s upgrades.
Pending Council authorisation in late October 2024, the City will provide further details on the public participation process for the release of the land for mixed-use development.
Mowbray, as it was known prior to renaming, has hosted the South African Open on seven occasions.
Many of the world’s biggest names in golf have played Mowbray, including Bobby Locke, Gary Player, Seve Ballesteros, Vijay Singh, Nick Faldo, Lee Trevino and Ernie Els – among many others.
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