Residents invited to design workshop related to new spatial vision for Cape Town CBD
17 September 2023
The City of Cape Town is developing a local spatial development framework (LSDF) for the Cape Town Central Business District (CBD). Collaboration with residents and stakeholders is pivotal, and all interested parties are encouraged to attend the design charrette on Wednesday, 20 September 2023. At the charrette, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a design process to help determine the opportunities for each precinct within the CBD.
The LSDF must facilitate transition planning that will ensure the CBD's economic prosperity, and protect and maintain existing investments, while creating new opportunities to transform the area into a more liveable, inclusive and resilient space.
The City's Urban Planning and Design Department prepared a draft contextual analysis document that will form the basis for the proposed LSDF to be prepared in coming months, in collaboration with residents. The public participation process about the draft contextual analysis document commenced on 1 September 2023.
'The draft document will help shape the future spatial planning and development of Cape Town's economic heartland. Thus, it is important that residents, and interested and affected parties make the time to read this document, and submit comments. The upcoming design charrette is an ideal opportunity to become part of the process, and to influence the outcomes. A charrette is a design process where a group of people make a concerted effort to solve a problem, or plan or design for a specific outcome. It is a dynamic and interactive way of collaborating and I encourage residents to attend, if they can,' said the City's Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
How to get involved:
- Attend the design charrette on Wednesday, 20 September 2023, from 18:00 to 20:00 at the Subcouncil 16 Chambers, 44 Wale Street, Cape Town
- Attend the online virtual engagement meeting: Wednesday, 27 September 2023, from 18:00 to 20:00. RSVP via email to register and request a Skype link: CBDTransition.LSDF@capetown.gov.za
'The core area of the Cape Town CBD covers approximately 384 hectares. Many will agree that the CBD sets the trend for greater Cape Town in terms of creativity, business activity, and growth potential; it is at the heart of our city's economy, our primary metropolitan node; and in terms of location, one of the most sought after areas to live and work.
'As we are gearing for the future post-Covid-19, the City has identified the need for a plan that will turn the CBD into a more liveable, resilient, attractive, and inclusive district. We need this plan to support and enable economic recovery, to re-imagine the role and function of the CBD, to propose how it can become more accessible in terms of affordability and provide a programme of actions to address current and future challenges to ensure its long-term prosperity,' said Alderman Andrews.
The City's Integrated Development Plan, and CBD recovery and transition project focuses on quality precinct management, the boosting of mixed-use development and providing residential opportunities, including affordable accommodation to make the CBD more inclusive, over time.
'This means we have to redevelop and convert office space into residential housing opportunities and mixed uses, as well as improve public spaces, streets and community facilities. Similarly, these efforts must be supported by investment in bulk infrastructure for the provision of basic services such as water, sanitation, mobility, and so forth.
'To achieve these outcomes, the City commenced with the drafting of an LSDF to guide spatial planning and land use in the CBD. This policy document will take into account social, economic and environmental factors, and guide decisions on future public and private development applications. In the end, the intention is to pursue a spatial form fit for purpose in terms of density and land use, among others, and an urban character that will build on our resilience in times of uncertainty and constant change. However, all of this must be balanced against the need to protect the CBD's townscape and heritage, and the area's unique location with Table Mountain as its backdrop and Table Bay on the other end,' said Alderman Andrews.
The LSDF will be based on the draft contextual analysis document that is available for public comment until 30 September 2023. This is the first step in preparing the LSDF.
For more information, and how to register to be part of the process:
The draft contextual analysis document elaborates on the following:
- Existing land use guidelines such as the Table Bay District Spatial Development Framework of 2023 and Tall Buildings Policy of 2013
- Draft land use policies such as the Foreshore Gateway Precinct plan of 2021 and CBD Urban Design Concept and Guidelines of 2022
- Emerging guidelines, such as the one on inclusionary housing
- A socio-economic overview of the CBD, its demographics, transport infrastructure, public realm, economy, property market, heritage, current land use and development traits, urban conditions, and services infrastructure
- An analysis of the CBD precincts of De Waterkant, Convention District, Mid-City, Company Gardens/Government Precinct, East Foreshore, East City, and Lower Gardens
- Constraints and possibilities
- A consolidated draft action list and conclusion
Once approved, the LSDF for the Cape Town CBD will elaborate on and support the spatial development guidelines as set out in the Table Bay District Spatial Development Framework, which is a higher order spatial plan for the City Bowl and surrounds.
Caption: The City commenced with the process to draft a local spatial development framework for the core area of the Cape Town CBD as indicated in the map. The first step in this process is the finalisation of the draft contextual analysis document that is available for public comment until 30 September 2023. Residents are invited to attend a design charrette on 20 September 2023.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
