We all want a city that offers quality public spaces, ample recreational opportunities and efficient public transport. However, this is only possible in a city that is dense and compact.

Unfortunately, Cape Town’s current form is quite the opposite. Over the past 20 years, the city has grown in a fast and continuous low-density manner better known as urban sprawl.

This type form of urban growth is a threat to the long-term sustainability of the city. It destroys valuable agricultural land, along with irreplaceable biodiversity, natural areas and scenic views. Urban sprawl also creates longer distances between work and home well as schools, universities and recreational places. Public transport is not viable in spread-out cities, as population densities are too low, meaning that there are not enough passengers.

Encouraging a sustainable, integrated city

To curtail urban sprawl, the City of Cape Town is preparing an updated and revised Development Edges Policy that sets limits for Cape Town’s urban growth and encourages a more cost-efficient, integrated city.

The policy includes an Urban Edge line, which defines the outer limits of the city’s development, limits haphazard, low-density urban sprawl and protects natural and agricultural resources. A strict urban edge also assists in conserving, protecting and managing natural environments, and visual and historical assets. It also consolidates infrastructure and service delivery and improves access to the city’s resources and amenities, especially for the poor.

Perhaps most importantly, such a policy will provide certainty to homeowners and investors about future development, and furnish guidelines for City officials to use in assessing applications for development.

Not unique to Cape Town

The concept of an urban edge is not unique to Cape Town and has been widely applied internationally. Examples include the green belt in London, strict land-use applications and lines/zones of no growth in many European cities, and the Smart Growth management boundaries in North American cities such as Portland, Oregon.

Protecting the coastline

In addition to the urban edge, the City has also demarcated a Coastal Edge line, which defines and limits coastal development primarily for safety reasons (flooding and sea-level rise) and to protect natural and coastal processes. Cape Town’s proposed Coastal Edge Policy aligns with the National Integrated Coastal Management Act (2009) and aims to balance the creation of quality coastal environments with equitable opportunities for development.

The draft policy proposes that land on the coastal side of the coastal edge be managed as a Coastal Protection Zone, within which any further conventional urban development will not be allowed.

Not suitable for development

Cape Town’s proposed Development Edges policy suggests a number of areas and conditions that should not be considered for urban development. These include steep slopes; dunefields; habitats in which rare and endangered plants or animals are to be found; land falling within the 1:100 year flood line; farming areas; areas without bulk infrastructure facilities and networks; water catchment areas and groundwater reserves; historic sites and areas of cultural significance; areas that are predominantly rural, medium to high potential agricultural land, and natural landscapes; and important gateways to Cape Town.

The Development Edges Policy will be reviewed every ten years on the basis of a set of principles set out in the draft policy.

The Draft Development Edges Policy will form part the City’s Spatial Development Framework and District Spatial Development Planning public participation process, which is scheduled for August/September 2009. Dates for public meetings and open days where these policies can be read will be advertised. For more information visit www.capetown.gov.za or contact Anele Horn on tel 021 400 2161 (e-mail anele.horn@capetown.gov.za).