Parow Station Precinct exempted from heritage protection
13 May 2020
Heritage Western Cape has approved the City of Cape Town’s proposal to exempt the Parow Station Precinct from heritage protections under the National Heritage Resources Act. Those who want to appeal the decision must do so by 4 June 2020.
The exemption from Sections 34 of the National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA) will allow owners of properties in this precinct to alter, improve and demolish buildings that are older than 60 years.
HWC’s decision is subject to an appeal period of 21 working days. Those who want to appeal this decision must please submit their appeals to the Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport by the closing date of 4 June 2020 latest.
Currently, all buildings that are older than 60 years of age enjoy heritage protection in terms of the NHRA. Thus, owners of such buildings must first submit a heritage application to the Provincial Heritage Resources Authority, which is Heritage Western Cape, for approval in terms of the NHRA. The City can only approve building plans once all other approvals have been attained, including NHRA approvals.
‘This precinct is the first in South Africa to be exempted from Sections 34 of the NHRA. Should this decision from HWC take effect, it will reduce unnecessary regulatory processes. It could also very well reduce the time it takes to approve developments and bring down the cost. All of this will improve the financial viability of development in the Parow Station Precinct,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Marian Nieuwoudt.
The Parow Station Precinct is adjacent to the Parow Station and bounded by Voortrekker Road, Tygervallei Street, Cloete and Picton Streets. This area is in serious need of urban regeneration and investment.
In 2016 the City’s Department for Environment and Heritage Resources conducted an audit of the properties in the Parow Station Precinct to identify buildings that are worthy of conservation. It was found that the exemption would have little or no impact on the conservation of heritage resources.
It is important to add that the exemption does not give or take away any development rights. Those property owners who wish their current properties to remain as is will not be affected.
The designation of the heritage exemption area will have the following effects:
give certainty to owners and investors that there will be no potential heritage restrictions in terms of the 60-year clause
reduce unnecessary regulatory processes to enable greater certainty for property owners who want to invest in their property
reduce development approval times and cost, thereby improving financial viability of development in the designated area
with the reduction of costs and approval times investor confidence will be stimulated, which improves the likelihood of the development of affordable housing opportunities in well-located areas such as the Parow Station Precinct
regulatory reforms that encourage appropriate urban development assist in stimulating the construction industry, thereby providing much needed jobs
‘The last point is very important. COVID-19 is having a devastating impact on our local economy and residents’ livelihoods. We must do all we can to save jobs, and to create new job opportunities. Similarly, regulatory reforms such as this one can assist property owners to use their assets to their full potential,’ said Alderman Nieuwoudt.
The Parow Station Precinct is an identified prioritised local area. It falls within the Voortrekker Road Corridor Integration Zone (VRCIZ), one of three integration zones (IZs) where the City will prioritise dense, transit-oriented growth and development.
‘Parow, and more specifically the Parow Station Precinct, has significant potential for renewal and redevelopment. It is centrally located. It is close to major employment centres like Century City, N1 City and Tyger Valley, the airport, and industrial nodes. There is also a diverse range of land uses in terms of residential, commercial, retail, industrial and public facilities. The precinct is ideally located to stimulate growth and to create more inclusive communities with access to improved services, job opportunities, and affordable housing and public transport,’ said Alderman Nieuwoudt.
Appeals, inclusive of the grounds of the appeal, must be submitted before or on 4 June 2020 to the office of the Western Cape Minister for Cultural Affairs and Sport. The contact details can be accessed through this link: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/your_gov/406/contact-us
Caption:
The orange section indicates the area to be exempted from heritage protection in terms of Sections 34 of the National Heritage Resources Act.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
