Real estate investment trust Growthpoint has started construction on the second development phase of its Arterial Industrial Estate, in Blackheath, Cape Town.

Arterial Industrial Estate is on a 71 656 m² site in the heart of Blackheath, which is a growing and modernising industrial node in Cape Town.

Phase 2 construction will add 21 840 m² of lettable space, or more than doubling the size of Arterial Industrial Estate. This second phase will add a further six warehouse units, ranging from 2 945 m² to 5 713 m², enhancing the estate’s capacity to cater to diverse business needs.

Arterial Industrial Estate Phase 2 will be ready for occupation from March 2025, Growthpoint says.

After construction was completed in April 2024, 85% of the available space in Phase 1 has been taken up by national and international tenants.

The first phase of Arterial Industrial Estate spans 19 741 m², with five warehouse units, each with a two-storey office block.

Growthpoint’s decision is in response to growing demand for space, with four out of five industrial units released in the first phase of this new development occupied by tenants.

Only a single 3 503 m² unit, which is suited for light industrial businesses, remains available.

Further, the estate has achieved a 4-Star Green Star certification in the industrial property category from the Green Building Council of South Africa.

“The industrial estate's sustainable business practices help tenant businesses towards their own environmental, social and governance goals, and support long-term cost savings for its clients,” says Growthpoint national client experience and Western Cape asset manager Timothy Irvine.

This is aligned with Growthpoint’s goal of making its portfolio of properties environmentally sustainable. Growthpoint’s climate commitment target is being carbon-neutral by 2050.

The new phase of the development is already seeing great interest from potential tenants, he notes.

“The demand for space at Arterial Industrial Estate is unsurprising, considering the development’s central location and the steady demand for industrial space currently being experienced in Cape Town,” Irvine says.

The industrial estate is close to Cape Town International Airport, public transport nodes and arterial routes, which are important for South Africa’s economic activity, including the R300, N1, and N2, he says.

“Its proximity to arterial roads, and the country’s air and seaports network, makes it a sought-after physical address in Cape Town. Businesses at this location can efficiently connect with both local and global markets,” says Irvine.

The estate has 24-hour security and access control, flexibly sized warehouse and office space, and includes measures for efficient water and energy use.

Phase 1 of the Arterial Industrial Estate has seen the installation of solar panels, which will help tenants secure sustainable energy, Growthpoint says.