ADVERTORIAL
Welcome to Westown – an exciting new mixed-use development in Durban’s outer west where the first phase, Westown Square, is getting its world-class high street retail experience ready for business
Westown, a new 100ha sustainable mixed-use development, brings to Durban’s outer west (Shongweni, Hammarsdale and Cato Ridge) much more than simply a beautiful and convenient residential lifestyle. Yes, there are high-end retail offerings and recreational activities, but the potential of the area as an active green lung and a growth node for business, commercial and industrial facilities will also be realised.
Situated just off the N3 between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, benefits for the greater Shongweni area in the form of road infrastructure and other community support are also part of the development’s overall plan. Construction has now started with Westown’s first phase – the 50,000m² Westown Square, planned for opening in Easter 2025. With its top-drawer retail offering set among green landscaped spaces, Westown Square leads the way to a Westown lifestyle where community, connection, public space management and convenience take priority.
Carlos Correia, CEO of Fundamentum
Designed to connect
Following a thoughtful and intelligent footprint, Westown Square is designed to connect people with the various precincts, spaces and experiences that are all part of the greater Westown urban core. “The design is open, permeable and accessible, which encourages connection and interaction as part of the retail experience,” says Donald McGillivray, a partner at retail specialists MDS Architecture who, with Boogertman and Partners KZN, designed Weston Square for developers Fundamentum Property Group (Fundamentum).
“Westown Square is created as a high street environment that reflects a lifestyle approach and prioritises the movement of people,” says CEO of Fundamentum Carlos Correia. “It moves away from the ‘mall concept’ by combining shopping, dining and recreation in a setting that reflects the natural beauty of Shongweni.” Walkways surrounded by lush plant life, landscaped gardens, large trees and planter boxes not only celebrate the outdoors, but provide places for people to engage and sets the tone for Westown as a whole.
“We included features like the town gardens and square, the amphitheatre, maze and children’s play areas,” says Correia, “creating a retail space where you can immerse yourself in the beautiful natural surroundings.” Adding to the sense of shared community is The Barn on the Square. This market-style offering will be the heart of local trade and include bespoke food, wine, produce and handmade craft experiences all housed in a light and bright double-volume two-level building that opens up onto the town square.
High-end retail therapy
For those wanting access to a wide variety of retail brands and stores in one convenient location, Westown Square has it all. You can look forward to shopping at some of the country’s most popular outlets, with the first clutch including Checkers Hyper, Pick n Pay, Dis-Chem, Edgars, Mr Price and Clicks.
“But this is just the beginning,” says Lana Pattison, head of leasing at Fundamentum Property Group. “We are excited to bring Westown Square to market with such strong national brands – there is much more to come.”
“Westown Square’s anchor brands are the foundation of the retail experience and the base to which we will add further quality offerings – gems that will complement our mix and create our aspirational retail destination,” says Correia.
The Westown urban core and the first phase of the greater Shongweni development
Growth spurt
KwaZulu-Natal is the second largest economic contributor to SA’s GDP after Gauteng. It has the second largest population and is home to SA’s busiest container and bulk cargo ports. Yet, as one of the eThekweni Municipality’s five main industrial areas, the outer west historically has the lowest share of contribution to GDP in the city.
With this challenge comes the opportunity for growth, development and investment for both the public and private sectors, to which Westown’s developers, Fundamentum, responded.
Set to generate about R15bn in new investment over the next 10 to 15 years, both in infrastructure and top structures, Westown has approved development rights of about 520,000m² of bulk floor area. These rights have been activated by the retail core of Westown Square, which is supported by several interconnected precincts and facilities including The West Private Hospital, residential apartments, commercial and business activities and a warehousing and logistics precinct.
Retaining the outdoor character of Shongweni is integral to its development. Therefore, Westown will not only integrate with existing outdoor and lifestyle activities and facilities in the area but enhance them with the rehabilitation of sugar cane and revival of wetlands into an indigenous active green belt. As is the case with the whole of the Westown development, this node will fall under the management of the Westown Management Association.
Westown Square’s open air high street
Greater area benefits
Westown is the first development phase of the Shongweni Urban Development, a proclaimed catalytic project by the eThekwini Municipality supported by KwaZulu Natal’s economic development, tourism & environmental affairs department and National Government.
In addition to its investment value, Westown will also bring much needed community and socioeconomic benefits to the outer west including an upgraded road, water and power infrastructure, schooling and education facilities, running, cycling and equestrian trails, wetland rehabilitation and ongoing management. Support of surrounding businesses and facilities for the collective growth of the area, 15,000 construction jobs and 8,500 permanent jobs, training centre and skills development programmes, public transport, local service support and long-term developer investment are all focused on revitalising the area.
Prime industrial node
Westown’s warehousing and logistics opportunities are all strategically located with easy access to the N3 highway national corridor only 1.5km away. Known as the National Strategic Integrated Project 2 (SIP 2), this logistics and industrial corridor between Durban, the Free State and Gauteng is defined as a route with investment and development opportunities in accessible nodes.
Keystone and Cato Ridge are two such developing nodes with Shongweni earmarked to follow – it’s the closest new industrial development node to the port of Durban. Available for occupation from the end of 2024, Westown’s warehousing and logistics opportunities include 80,000m² of platform area with a height potential of 22m available in tailored offerings, with bespoke solutions on fully serviced platforms.
Homes for all generations
With the adult population in the area having increased at a rate of 6.5% over the past nine years, there’s been a greater demand for apartments and townhouses offering top-end security, a range of family-friendly facilities and access to surrounding amenities.
Shongweni is viewed as a prime location to answer this demand due to its convenient location with access to necessary facilities and services for current and future communities, its connection to existing residential areas and the availability of developable land.
As prime piece of developable land, Westown offers opportunities across all age groups and income levels with new apartments and walk-up living that will be supported by retail and commercial activities and uses, and lifestyle-related activities, all part of an integrated, planned and managed environment.
Integrating an outdoor lifestyle is integral to Westown’s planning
Business and commercial
Current market research related to the movement of the workforce in and around the outer west indicates that 41% of those living there commute out of the area for work purposes.
With significant increases in population year on year within working-aged adults (6.5% per annum over the past nine years) and increased preference for selecting the outer west due to its residential and lifestyle benefits, there is a noticeable demand for associated new commercial offerings.
As a greenfield site, Westown offers opportunities not only for new office parks and sectional title office units but also for a host of retail and commercial activities and uses with supporting lifestyle-related activities.
A progressive city
Westown offers investors, home and business owners the opportunity to do things differently – to be part of a progressive city. For Westown developers, this means channelling all the disciplines to create this new city towards delivering a sustainable and safe destination with social and economic value.
It allows for the creation of spaces and experiences that respond to the needs of people and how they interact in and with them, which encourages positive user experiences, social integration and ownership of the place.
While these are simple features, using them as core principles when building a new city is not a simple process. It requires constantly aligning processes, needs and interests involved in this long-term journey and pushing a people-first approach.
To read more about Westown, click here
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