Property developer Investec Property, a subsidiary of Investec Bank, is redeveloping an old brick manufacturing site – the disused 157 ha Corobrik site in Durban’s northern motorway corridor ­– into an industrial park called The Brickworks.

Primarily targeted towards logistics and distribution companies, The Brickworks offers accessibility to major arterial and alternative road networks.

Investec Property estimates the total development over three phases, including warehouses, to be valued at more than R6-billion upon completion. Phase 1 development comprises 33 ha.

Investec Property joint-CEO David Rosmarin says the development is a “vote of confidence in the future of KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa”.

He adds that while the property market has been challenged by the Covid-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns, industrial property, in particular warehousing and logistics facilities, have proven to be resilient. “The growth in [online] commerce has driven demand for best-in-class logistics offerings.”

Rosmarin explains that the first phase of construction will result in the development of about 150 000 m² of gross lettable area (GLA), worth close to R2-billion.

Strategically located between Riverhorse Valley and Umhlanga, The Brickworks is one of the largest earthmoving contracts in KwaZulu-Natal currently, moving 1.7-million cubic metres of soil to create extensive platforms upon which businesses will be located in the near future.

Investec Property plans to start building structures in July.

Currently, work at the site involves establishing bulk services, including electricity, water, sewerage, lighting and fencing.

“Our large platforms will allow for the construction of warehouses, up to 100 000 m² under roof. This is our biggest strategic advantage – having access to platforms of these sizes,” he says.

Following this, the site will receive security enhancements as part of The Brickworks’ layered approach to security, including fibre installation and closed circuit television monitoring infrastructure, as well as the construction of a guardhouse.

In this regard, The Brickworks development manager Iain Burns says work is being done by architects on a “really interesting design using some of Corobrik’s products to create a formal park entrance”.

Once all three phases have been developed, The Brickworks will include in excess of 450 000 m² of GLA, at an estimated value of R6-billion.

In terms of clients, The Brickworks team is currently at an advanced stage of negotiations with some large logistics national and international clients. “There is considerable interest. One of our biggest advantages is the fact that we can create these very large platforms. Large platforms in a location like ours do not exist in Durban,” he says.

The Brickworks is also beneficial for the City of eThekwini, as it forms part of the city’s Economic Development Incentive Policy, which aids investment in the city and contributes to job creation.

Meanwhile, Burns notes that wetland rehabilitation was required for part of the conditions for the environmental impact assessment for The Brickworks.

“That will run simultaneously as we commence top structure [construction]. We have committed to rehabilitating the entire wetland which runs down our western boundary,” he says.

The Corobrik factory originally opened in 1898, and for more than 100 years provided brick materials to a range of construction materials users and property developers.