Large subsidised housing scheme to be built alongside Paarl

Construction is to start on what will be one of the biggest housing projects in the Western Cape after the N2 Gateway development.

To be known as Drommedaris, the development, consisting of 1 588 houses, is being undertaken on 28 hectares next to Mbekweni. It is the last sizeable piece of vacant land close to the Paarl CBD.

The development was nearly called off due to the difficulties the site presented. Zoned originally for agriculture, it consisted mainly of marshland that was regularly flooded on purpose from the Dal Josafat stream, and naturally in winter. Part of it also lies within the 50-year floodline of the nearby Berg River. Over the years, a great many shallow dams were constructed that virtually covered the whole site, for the growing of "waterblommetjies".

The Drakenstein municipality wanted to establish an emergency housing project on the site to relocate families there from a nearby high-density informal settlement where they are living without access to basic services.

Initially, studies showed that the cost to make the land habitable would be extremely high and, although it was recommended that an alternative be found, the search for suitable land was unsuccessful.

The challenge of finding solutions was entrusted to CSM Consulting Services which, after extensive studies, proposed a solution consisting of bulk earthworks and so turned the project into a viable proposition.

CSM, which was given responsibility for the planning, design, implementation and execution of the entire project, obtained approval to proceed in March 2006 from the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. The bulk earthworks were completed in 2007 and, to date, 95 percent of the civil engineering services have been installed.

Drakenstein municipality said construction of the subsidised ownership houses is scheduled to be completed in 2012 and CRUs in 2014, subject to the availability of government subsidies.

Weekend Property supplement (Saturday Argus)

Posted at 08:45AM Nov 02, 2009 by Editor in Residential  |