Full council approved a revised Municipal Spatial Development Framework (MSDF) at a meeting on Thursday 26 January.
Along with the MSDF, the Spatial Development Frameworks (DSDFs) for the metro’s eight planning districts and Environmental Management Frameworks (EMFs) were also approved. This includes the DSDF for the Helderberg.
The DSDFs and EMFs guide spatial development and land use management on a district level, while the MSDF determines the overall spatial vision for the City of Cape Town.
“These planning policies determine what our suburbs will look and feel like 10 years from now, and inform and guide the City’s decisions when we assess development and land use applications,” explained Eddie Andrews, Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee member for Spatial Planning and Environment.
“The eight EMFs and DSDFs have been revised in consultation with residents and interested and affected parties, at public meetings and through various platforms, for nearly three years. Similarly, the MSDF has been revised through an extensive public participation process last year.”
He added that residents are directly affected by land use, and the nature, form and location of developments in their areas, so everyone has an interest in the content of the frameworks.
“New developments – be it for housing, retail or industrial reasons – are needed to provide for the growing population.
“This growth must be managed in a manner that is equitable, that protects our natural assets and heritage; and uses scarce resources optimally – among which developable land, electricity, and water.
“Collectively, the land use and development guideline documents also improve our resilience as we are entering a more unpredictable future with pandemics, climate change, and electricity insecurity. Finally, the frameworks align with and support the City’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) approved by council last year.”
The review of the eight DSDFs and EMFs started in mid-2019 with an extensive public participation process. The revised DSDFs and EMFs are for the following planning districts: Table Bay, Blaauwberg, Northern, Tygerberg, Helderberg, Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain and Greater Blue Downs, Cape Flats and Southern.
The DSDFs are important planning documents as it:
- determines the strategic priorities, spatial elements and key projects specific to the eight geographical areas;
- proposes targeted areas in need of restructuring and integration;
- provides certainty to developers, communities and City directorates;
- creates opportunities for development;
- provides detailed information about the population and property growth, development trends and community needs on a local neighbourhood level; and
- provides information on pressures, trends and future needs as well as proposed projects (some of which are already in the budget) for government housing, communal and social facilities, and infrastructure. guides and informs land use and environmental decision making.
The MSDF guides and informs long-term planning and development in Cape Town on a macro- or municipal-wide level, its key objectives being to establish a spatial form that will ensure the metro becomes a city that is more equitable, liveable, sustainable, resilient and efficient.
It also identifies areas not suited for urban development, areas where development proposals should consider risk factors and areas where development is preferred.
