To facilitate greater collaboration and interaction among property developers, development consultants and Drakenstein Municipality, the municipality is starting a Drakenstein Property Developers’ Forum.
The aim of the forum is to help address regulatory challenges and to identify areas of improvement within the existing practices and processes associated with property development.
At the inception meeting held on 24 March a core working group of nine individuals from the private sector was elected to engage with the municipality and prepare for the formal establishment of the Drakenstein Property Developer’s Forum.
“In the pursuit of accelerated socio-economic growth, Drakenstein Municipality recognises that good governance and efficient municipal practices and processes play a pivotal role,” said Jacqui Samson, Executive Director: Planning, Development Human Settlements at the municipality. “Property development is one of the key facets of Drakenstein’s intention to retain and attract new investment.”
She explained that during a recent in-depth look at the internal processes and systems associated with property development, it was recognised that there is a need to engage with the private sector through a municipal property developers’ forum.
“The main purpose of the envisioned forum is to facilitate greater collaboration and interaction among property developers, built-environment consultants and the municipality – to improve efficiencies in the processing of development applications.”
The inception meeting was well attended by property developers and construction companies, with a widespread representation of the built environment profession being present. Said Samson: “The enthusiasm of those there was noticeable, and the appetite to form a new partnership between the municipality and stakeholders of the built environment was encouraging.”
The forum will meet monthly to provide feedback on matters under discussion.
