CAPE TOWN – The City of Cape Town has invited tenders equivalent to a combined estimated value of some R125,6 million in land release for affordable housing developments across the city.
In Ottery the proposal entails the development of a residential security estate with an estimated 375 residential units in buildings ranging from two- to four-storeys, providing a mix of affordable housing and market related rental accommodation; and in Lansdowne the development of a residential security estate with an estimated 308 residential units arranged in four-storey buildings, providing a mix of affordable housing and market related rental accommodation.
In Brackenfell the proposal entails a residential security estate with an estimated 115 affordable rental housing units accommodated in two- to three-storey buildings, together with 30 housing ownership opportunities in two-storey buildings, as well as approximately 60 m² in size of retail floor space.
In Northpine the proposed development will see a residential security estate with an estimated 396 affordable rental housing units accommodated in two- to four-storey buildings, together with 34 housing ownership opportunities in two-storey buildings, as well as approximately 800 m² in size of retail floor space.
Pioneering programme
In a statement to the media today, the City invited private sector partners and developers to contact the City for more information on these well-packaged and incentivised proposed developments, “while all due process and public engagement continues to be followed as and when required”.
The City states that the pioneering affordable housing programme is characterised by well-packaged and de-risked properties fuelled by public private partnerships.
“The cornerstone of the programme is bringing greater access to affordable housing on well-located pieces of land close to amenities and public transport translating to investment and regeneration spin-offs within the local areas. All neighbourhoods in the metro where there is surplus City-owned land are evaluated with the aim of providing access to more affordable housing. The City is bringing to the market bankable, investment-ready, packaged and rezoned properties, aligning with the City’s affordable housing delivery objectives,” says Mayco member for human settlements Carl Pophaim.
Central to the agenda is a people-centred approach in providing inclusive, and safe residential environments with ecological amenities and green spaces.
According to him, the game changing land price discounts applied on the affordable housing portfolio fosters greater market participation by reducing the barriers of entry into the Cape Town market.
“Central to the agenda is a people-centred approach in providing inclusive, and safe residential environments with ecological amenities and green spaces. Local economy boost, better access to employment, proximity to public transport inclusive of rail, minibus taxis and bus services are part of the suite of benefits to be gained from the planned developments,” he says.
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The City is pleased to announce the below tenders, which are readily available on the City’s tender portal on the website. We invite prospective developers to consider these attractive land offerings.”
The closing date for tender submissions has been extended to 10:00 on Tuesday, 17 March to afford bidders sufficient time to submit proposals.
Watershed year for public private partnerships
PoPhaim said 2026 is the year in which the City are “ready to harvest the fruit of its pioneering affordable housing programme” both in the wider metro area and central inner city programme.
“Releasing, packaging and developing public land for affordable housing is an incredibly intricate and time consuming business due to the myriad of legislative hurdles one must traverse, but our expert teams never give up. In this win-win scenario, not only does the private sector get the opportunity to partner with the City and communities, but our neighbourhoods are boosted through the investment, making areas safer, more integrated, more economically vibrant. Ecological health and environmentally sustainable green open spaces are also prioritised and celebrated.”
“We currently have a pipeline of over 12 000 residential units, including in the central Cape Town inner city areas, with more being added as we continue to assess City-owned land for release in terms of Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis’ priority programme to unlock well-located land for affordable housing, ensuring inclusive growth and spatial transformation.”
For information on all tenders mentioned above, contact: affordable.housing@capetown.gov.za
