Twenty-two months have passed since October 2022 when the first sod was turned and the development of Westown in began. Since then nearly 75% of phase 1, including Westown Square and the surrounding road upgrades have been completed. The project now enters a critical stage, focusing on the extensive landscaping and construction of parking areas within Westown Square, along with the installation of bulk water mains and treatment works.
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A mixed-use property and lifestyle development positioned off the N3 between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, Westown is situated in Shongweni.
“Without the City’s investment, the land Westown is being built on, would still be sugarcane, not offering any return, financially, socially or environmentally,” says Carlos Correia, CEO of Fundamentum Property Group (Fundamentum). “We are incredibly bullish about Durban and KZN as THE place for investment and Fundamentum is proud to be spearheading this wave of optimism and tangible opportunity.”“Westown is the single biggest infrastructure investment by the municipality since the Soccer World Cup in 2010 and brings significant socio-economic value to the Outer West region of eThekweni, which has been under-served for so many years.”
New bulk and precinct infrastructure
Some R600 million is being invested by the eThekwini Municipality into supporting bulk infra- structure (roads, water, wastewater and electricity), while Fundamentum is overseeing and managing this development work through contractors Stefanutti Stocks and is also investing hundreds of millions into the new bulk and precinct infrastructure. Infrastructure upgrades include two new bridges and a total make-over of the existing two-lane Kassier Rd across the M13 and N3 into four lanes with a centre median. The M13 bridge is to be totally rebuilt, a new pedestrian bridge is being added over the N3 along with a new loop ramp and bridge over Kassier Road providing direct access into Westown.
With the Municipality’s facilitative investment into bulk infrastructure, the New City of the West and Durban’s newest commercial, tourism and retail hub, is estimated to generate some R15 billion in investment over the next 10 to 15 years, with over R2,5bn already committed and being invested.
This comes in the form of investment by Fundamentum, together with the Absa Commercial and Investment Bank (Absa) backing of the 50 000m² WESTOWN SQUARE shopping experience.
Westown key features
Designed by MDS Architecture in a joint venture with Boogertman and Partners KZN, Westown Square will “prioritise the movement of people, social spaces and lifestyle as part of the shopping experience”, says Donald McGillivray, MDS Architecture partner. There’s a strong focus on open spaces, with densely-planted walkways, pergola-covered seating, large trees and planter boxes, celebrating the outdoors and setting the tone for Westown as a whole. Key features of Westown Square include the Town Centre and Town Gardens as well as the amphitheatre and children’s play areas.
Spatial heart of Westown
A key component of Westown Square is The Barn, a shared space for community connection and enjoyment positioned as the spatial heart of Westown. It provides a permanent niche space for local traders and reflects the high-street design approach that makes Westown unique.
“The Barn will house an eclectic selection of artisanal homeware, art, beauty, fashion, food and beverage outlets, alongside quality restaurants and niche concept eateries.
Opening with Westown Square in March 2025, this collective space works hand in hand with the Westown Square tenant mix creating a first-of-its-kind environment that will make this one of the region’s most popular 7-day-a-week local and tourist destinations,” says Lana Pattison divisional director of retail leasing for Westown developers, The Fundamentum Property Group.
Shongweni Eco Park
The JSE-listed Balwin Properties (Balwin), will add a further R2 billion in value with their 1 260-apartment lifestyle estate Shongweni Eco Park marking the first of 3 000 units to be built in the Westown Urban Core with a total of 20 000 units set to bring a rich residential element to the greater Shongweni development.
The unique, 6-star Greenstar-rated lifestyle estate will include access to amenities such as a fully equipped Training Science Gym, children’s play area, swimming pool, running/walking tracks as well as a concierge service. A range of garden apartments will be on offer, with prices expected to range between R899 900 and R2 099 900. This brand-new development is due to be launched to the market in the last quarter of 2024 and will evolve over the next few years.
Farrier Business Park
The platform and service installations for Farrier Business Park are underway with 80,000 square meters of platform area available. This key precinct within the Westown development will be a hub for warehousing and logistics services, with occupancy planned for mid-2025.
Westown’s position on the N3 is a strategic logistics advantage. The N3 is known as the SIP 2, a logistics and industrial corridor between Durban – Free State– Gauteng that offers investment and development opportunities in easily accessible nodes along it. Keystone and Cato Ridge are two such developing nodes, leaving Shongweni (and Westown) as the next logical, and closest, new development node to the Durban Port. Already easily accessible for day-to-day business, transport and social services for existing and future local communities, and being connected to existing residential areas, Westown offers opportunities beyond and in support of, the logistics landscape, including for new residents, businesses, shops, and recreational activities.
The West Private Hospital
To cater to the 3 000 new residential units being occupied in the Westown urban core over the next 5-8 years medical services are a must and The West Private Hospital has been awarded a 100-bed license for the following medical services and amenities that include:
- 27 Medical Beds & 50 Surgical Beds
- 3 Intensive Care Beds & 5 High-Care Beds
- 10 Day Beds
- 1 Medical Isolation Bed; 2 Surgical Isolation Beds & 2 Intensive Care Unit Isolation Beds
- 4 Major Theatres
- 1 Scope Room; 1 Procedure Room & 2 Resuscitation Rooms
- Trauma / Outpatient Unit
- Radiology & Pathology
- Central Sterilizing Department
- Physiotherapy
- 16 Medical Suites
Opportunities related to co-development and ownership as well as operations are currently in negotiation.
Westown Square, The Barn, Shongweni Eco Park, Farrier Business Park, The West Private Hospital and the infrastructure upgrades and provisions in and around Westown pave the way for the next precincts within the new city of the West. Further announcements in this regard are expected in the coming months.
For more information visit www.westown.co.za
For leasing enquiries at The Barn & Westown Square, contact Lana 083 511 4433.
