Durban’s latest mixed- use development is expected to attract about R10-billion in investment as the first property sales talks within the business estate section of the Bridge City development kick off.

The 60 ha Bridge City development, a joint venture between the eThekwini municipality and Tongaat Hulett, comprises a 43 ha mixed-use commercial and residential town centre and the recently released 17 ha business estate, about 17 km from the Durban port and 23 km from King Shaka International Airport.

Tongaat Hulett develop-ment director Cyril Gwala said the Bridge City business estate – a greenfield develop- ment – was expected to “transform” the surrounding Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu communities and accounted for about R1-billion of the total investment potential.

A 4 ha site within the business estate has already been sold to the municipality for a new bus rapid transit depot, with several other active queries received.

The estate’s transport facilities include a new railway station and line, accommo-dating about 100 000 com-muters daily once Bridge City is completed, as well as bus and taxi ranks.

The Bridge City development also hosts a regional magistrate’s court, which opened in May, and the 68 000 m2 Bridge City shopping centre, which is currently tenanted by Spar, Woolworths, Edcon Group, Spur and Chicken Licken, besides others.

In addition to potential residential sites available above the shopping centre, existing subdivided and saleable sites are available for mixed-use multistorey residential, retail and office space opposite the shopping centre.

Ithala Bank has secured a site between the court and a proposed hospital for a mixed-use development.

Construction of a much- delayed R1.2-billion 450-bed public regional hospital is expected to start within two years. The piling and services have already been com- pleted.

The town centre sites are priced from R950/m2 retail (bulk) and R300/m2 for residential (bulk), but prices are being reviewed.

The price of sites within the business estate will start from R1 400/m2 of platform area, depending on the topography and the needs of individual investors.