The City of Tshwane (which includes Pretoria) has approved a strategic precinct plan for the Tshwane Fresh Product Market and its surrounding neighbourhoods. The precinct was defined as the area bounded by Staatsartillerie street on the north, the railway line on the west, Dr WF Nkomo street (previously part of Church street) to the south, and by Eskia Mphahlele drive and Marabastad to the east. (Marabastad was named after the nineteenth-century MaNdebele clan's Chief Maraba.)

“Enhancing and revitalising the inner city of Pretoria will allow our capital city to contribute even more to economic growth and job creation in the region,” highlighted Tshwane Economic Development and Spatial Planning MMC Sarah Mabotsa. “The vision of the precinct is a sustainable and prosperous precinct, that is pedestrian-friendly and well connected to public transport. The revitalisation of the Pretoria inner city and efforts to enhance the functions of the Tshwane Fresh Produce Market are priorities for the current administration. The precinct will include housing and mixed-use developments so that it may once again become a preferred investment area for small and large businesses.”

The Precinct Plan set up the planning and management guidelines for the development of the area and for changing land use within it. It is an instrument to fulfil economic, environmental and social objectives.

The area lies near several major tertiary education institutions, including the Tshwane University of Technology (which is north of the designated precinct). Unsurprisingly, it is a youthful part of the city, in terms of residents, with a current median population age of 20 years to 29 years.

The Precinct Plan contains a number of proposals. These are – 22% of its area should be devoted to the Tshwane Fresh Product Market; 19% should be allocated to roads and infrastructure; 16% should be for high-density mixed-used development; 15% should be for medium-density mixed-use development; 10% should be for open spaces, urban agriculture, and the river (Skinnerspruit); and 3% for the railway. The remaining 15% will be for already existing educational, public amenity and religious institutions or services.

The medium-density and high-density areas will allow the creation of more than 7 200 “housing opportunities”, as the city phrases it. “This will allow more people to live closer to where they work or study, meaning reduced traffic congestion for the capital city and huge savings of time and transport costs for thousands of families,” she pointed out.