WHEN THE WEST IS WON - ONE YEAR ON
Category Development News
On Wednesday, 11 October, the Westown team hosted the KZN property fraternity to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the start of phase one of their Shongweni-based 2000-hectare initiative. It was great for invited guests, Wakefields CEO Myles Wakefield, and Marketing Director Haydn Wakefield, to join them for the on-site presentation at the Westown Square Viewing Platform and see first-hand the progress that has been made in the past 12 months.
Over the next decade or so, this space will evolve into a mixed-use property and lifestyle development in the vein of Umhlanga Ridge as it repurposes former Tongaat Hulett sugarcane property.
The new development is ideally positioned near the national road N3 between Durban and Gauteng and is 35km from the Durban port and 55km from King Shaka International Airport, the Dube Trade Port and Pietermaritzburg. The 50000m2 retail hub Westown Square, designed on the high street model and anticipated to open by Easter 2025, is the first phase in the broader 100-hectare initial development parcel.
The project was designed by Gauteng-based retail specialists MDS Architecture in a joint venture with Westville-based Boogertman + Partners KZN and has already secured various national retailers as tenants including an 8500m2 Checkers Hyper, Pick n Pay, Mr Price Group, Dis-Chem Pharmacy Group, Pepkor, Clicks and The Foschini Group. In total, Westown has approved development for 520000m2 of bulk floor space.
An indigenous green belt will rehabilitate the former sugarcane fields with the whole development expected to generate R15 billion in infrastructural and new-build investments over the next 10 to 15 years. To date, the Westown Square retail project has pumped R1.3 billion into the local economy.
According to the Westown website www.westown.co.za, the socio-economic benefits include 15000 construction and 8500 permanent jobs over the next decade; an upgraded road infrastructure producing integrated public transport facilities; a training centre and skills development programmes; new schooling, education facilities and libraries for the eThekwini Municipality outer west communities.
The development also brings online a second private hospital for the outer west community in The West Private Hospital, as well as warehousing and logistics facilities, business and commercial activities, residential apartments and, in keeping with the neighbourhood's history and links to the horse-owning community, farrier crossings.
Another exciting feature of Westown is the innovative The Barn on The Square, a permanent market-like retail space for local artisanal traders. The initiative will allow patrons to shop, eat or have coffee while listening to local musicians perform in the atrium.
Westown Foundation chairman Sean Bergsma says the eThekwini outer west has lagged the rest of KwaZulu-Natal in terms of development and the Westown Foundation will facilitate and amplify local socio-economic opportunities for the surrounding communities.
"Focusing on skills development, education and literacy, the foundation will foster the sustainable participation of the greater Shongweni community ... with the goal of (enabling self-sufficiency). The journey has started with partners including the Stefanutti Stocks Academy through the Westown Training Centre and the Learn Project," he says.
Westown stands as a beacon of hope for the eThekwini outer west region, a testament to the power of strategic development and community investment. As this ambitious project unfolds, it not only promises economic growth but also the nurturing of local talent and sustainable opportunities for the residents of Upper Highway.
With its diverse offerings, from modern retail spaces to educational initiatives and healthcare facilities, Westown is more than just a real estate development; it's a catalyst for progress and prosperity in this part of KwaZulu-Natal. As we watch this vibrant community continue to take shape, we anticipate a future that is as promising as it is exciting, where Westown becomes not just a destination but a testament to the boundless potential of collaboration and innovation in shaping the world around us.
Author: Haydn Wakefield
