Media Coverage

Moreland Views – Residential Outlook
NEARLY R500m worth of vacant land is planned for the residential property market when Moreland opens up the Umhlanga Triangle and Umhlanga Ridge New Town Centre Residential component for expansion.

Moreland’s residential development director David Jollands says the two new developments will further expand the café society mixed commercial and residential living concept within the Ridge, whilst also densifying the area to maximise its sustainability.

Umhlanga Triangle is a 140ha site bounded by Umhlanga Rocks Drive the M4 and the Mount Edgecombe M41 highway that will bring a potential 3000 residential units and 250000 metre square of commercial bulk space to the market via four development areas that enhance the natural attributes of the site.

Such attributes include the magnificent Indian Ocean sea views, the use of the existing nature valley and drainage system for storm water management system and incorporating the existing forest into the heart of the community by planting and extending without damaging the natural habitat it provides for animals, birds and plants.

David envisages the developments will allow limited access to the forest with its upkeep protected via levies from the landowners. The development will also be linked to the Umhlanga Boulevard, maximising the synergy between sea views and the land.

He says across the four zones will be opportunities for corporate head offices, hotels and showrooms, combined commercial and residential buildings that embody lifestyles around piazzas and a range of high, medium and low density residential units.

Focus will be given to parks, open spaces and the opportunity to “make the space a living entity. The piazzas will encourage the presence of people and activity seven days a week that support the emerging trend of a café society,” David says.

The Umhlanga Ridge New Town Centre Residential Component densifies the residential opportunities in the town centre by bringing around 2800 potential residential units to the market. Bordered by Herrwood Drive and the N2 to the east and west and Autumn Drive to the north, the site will be developed with consideration to maximising its natural attributes. However, says David, this takes into account that the land is essentially becoming the residential component of the central business district.

Within that framework, Moreland aims to develop several cabana-style complexes with sea views along the Ridge ranging up to 12 storeys and a host of two to six storey complexes further west and an exciting element of the development lies in the introduction of “Savannah Parks” within the road reserves. Named after the American city that has successfully used the concept, buildings are developed close to the road frontage boundary overlooking the street and parks and incorporate parking and recreational facilities within their structures.

Traffic also becomes more controlled, as narrower roads that incorporate green belts in their midst and trees along their borders force motorists to reduce their speed.

David says these developments follow the successes Moreland has already experienced with the Ilala Ridge and Izinga Ridge initiatives. Ilala rekindles the extensive apartment developments Durban last saw on the Berea nearly half a century ago and holds something in its palm for everyone.

Izinga Ridge brings four unique cul-de-sac developments to the market, each accommodating 40 discerning homeowners in attractively landscaped and aesthetically themed environments. This forms the 2000 unit Izinga development which sweeps down to the Hawaan Forest and Ohlanga river and already incorporates the magnificent Umhlanga College private school.

David says the “sold out” signs abound in the other residential developments Moreland has brought to the market in the past decade. The Moreland vision has created a wide range of high, medium and low density residential units towards the north of Durban and the co-ordinated approach has secured its long-term sustainability.

Written by: www.thdev.co.za | Date Added: 23 Mar 2009