The V&A Waterfront hopes to break ground later this year on a proposed R20-billion development to be rolled out in phases over the next 15 to 20 years.

The new development and its funding have already been approved by joint shareholders Growthpoint and the Public Investment Corporation.

V&A Waterfront spokesperson Donald Kau says the project requires rezoning approval, with a decision now pending from the City of Cape Town’s Municipal Planning Tribunal.

The application was released for public comment in July last year.

The massive new development will involve reclaiming land from the sea.

To put it in perspective: The V&A Waterfront’s application is for an additional 440 000 m² in development area to add to its current 614 000 m² footprint.

The majority of new build is planned for the Granger Bay precinct.

It is envisaged that Granger Bay will be developed as a residentially led, mixed-use precinct with public and cultural amenities – a process that will include reestablishing public access to the ocean edge.

Kau says the V&A Waterfront’s vision for the Granger Bay site includes a public walkway linking the city centre to Mouille Point, connecting with the current Atlantic seaboard promenade.

“The V&A Waterfront’s ultimate vision for Granger Bay is opening up public access to a new protected area,” he notes.

“Our design approach will strengthen the shoreline and protect the bay, at the same time as creating a new leisure destination for swimming, walking and water-based activities.

“This will be subject to statutory approvals, including environmental impact assessments and reclamation approvals.”

Granger Bay currently houses popular landmarks like the Oceana Power Boat Club and Oranjezicht City Farm Market, which will both be integrated into the new development.

The V&A Waterfront in its current guise welcomed more than 25-million visitors in 2023.

Long in the Making
Thirty years ago, a basket of rights was granted for Cape Town’s then neglected docklands through a zoning agreement to develop 603 859 m² of floor space, says Kau.

In 2015, this increased to 613 859 m², with the approval of an application to redevelop the historic grain silo precinct.

Today, the Waterfront’s remaining development rights are mostly accounted for through approved plans, and limited opportunities remain for future development, notes Kau.

It is in this context that the V&A Waterfront applied to rezone its property from ‘Development Zone’ (the unique zoning established for the Waterfront in March 1993) to ‘Mixed Use 3’ in terms of the City of Cape Town’s Development Management Scheme.

This is considered the most appropriate zoning for the Waterfront and its broad mix of land uses, says Kau.

About 66% of the 440 000 m2 of floor space applied for is earmarked for the Granger Bay development area.

The remaining 34% is proposed for other parts of the Waterfront property, including the Canal District, which has seen renewed interest and investment with the development of Battery Park, an inner-city park with leisure and recreational facilities centred around remnants of the historic Amsterdam Battery.