| Redevelopment of Strand Street Quarry, Cape Town | Redevelopment of Strand Street Quarry, Cape Town | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/StrandStr_Quarry_Header.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <div class="ExternalClassC497B779FD34446AA12EB43C3034C365"><p>The City is in the process of refining the vision for the redevelopment of the Strand Street Quarry site. The intention is to transform the quarry site into a multi-use community precinct that integrates sports, culture, economic activities and tourism in a very unique setting. Once the site is fully developed, it should benefit the local communities and Capetonians for generations to come. Find out more about the project below. </p></div> | <span>
<h2 class="sectHeading">About</h2></span>
<p>Strand Street Quarry is the largest of three quarries in the Bo-Kaap, and a National Heritage Site. It is the oldest quarry in the country and the stone quarried at the site was used in the construction of various historic buildings, including the Castle of Good Hope. </p><p>The quarry face is a significant feature of immense historical and heritage significance, with surrounding communities boasting rich cultural heritage dating back to the mid-1700’s. </p><p>It is located on the outskirts of the central business district along Strand Street, and borders the historical Bo-Kaap and de Waterkant residential neighbourhoods. The site consists of a portion of the remainder of Erf 367, Erf 617 and some unregistered state land. To the east of the site is Strand Street; to the west is Tana Baru cemetery; and to the south is Jami’a Masjid.</p><p>Even though the site is a key strategic asset with a lot of potential, it has been underutilised for decades. Since 2021, the surrounding communities have participated in various planning processes, including the City's
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/work%20and%20business/planning-portal/plans-policies-frameworks-and-guidelines/cape-town-spatial-development-framework">Municipal Spatial Development Framework (MSDF)</a>,
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/work%20and%20business/planning-portal/plans-policies-frameworks-and-guidelines/district-plans">Table Bay District Plan</a>,
<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20strategies%2c%20plans%20and%20frameworks/Bo-Kaap_LSDF_Vol_2.pdf" target="_blank">Bo-Kaap Local Spatial Development Framework (2023)</a> and the
<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20strategies%2c%20plans%20and%20frameworks/Bo-Kaap_Tourism_Development_Framework.pdf" target="_blank">Bo-Kaap Tourism Development Framework (2021)</a>, where they identified an urgent need for: </p><ul><li>a sport, recreation and community facility, and </li><li> upliftment and improvement of the surrounding area. </li></ul>
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<p>Aerial view of the Strand Street Quarry </p> </figcaption> </figure>
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<p>Strand Street Quarry and surrounds.</p> </figcaption> </figure>
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<p>Top of Strand Street Quarry. </p> </figcaption> </figure>
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<p>View of Cape Town Central Business District and Table Mountain from Strand Street Quarry. </p> </figcaption> </figure></div><div class="image-gallery-control"><div class="image-gallery-caption"><p></p></div><div class="image-gallery-nav"><div class="nav-info">1 of 4</div><div class="slide-next">
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<h2 class="sectHeading">Concept design process</h2></span>
<p>In March 2023, the City initiated a due diligence investigation and concept design process for the Strand Street Quarry in collaboration with a collective of community representatives, City professionals, and stakeholders at co-design workshops. </p><p>The first draft concept design was advertised for public comment in November 2023, and proposed the following interventions, among others:</p><ul><li>
<strong>Sport facilities:</strong> a multi-purpose rugby sized astro-turf sporting pitch, cricket practice nets, a spectator stand, multi-purpose hardcourt, clubhouse, changing rooms, facilities management and booking office </li><li>
<strong>Economic and tourism opportunities:</strong> a market space and trading areas, Bo-Kaap food and spice market and restaurant </li><li>
<strong>Heritage and cultural opportunities:</strong> an exhibition and museum space, a multi-purpose meeting space, and opportunities to incorporate the community living heritage into concept design </li><li>
<strong>Existing municipal utilities:</strong> the existing electricity substation and switchgear infrastructure will be retained and Metro Police will be accommodated in refurbished and new operational buildings </li><li>
<strong>Improvement of the public realm: </strong>creating a clearly defined and attractive entrance to the site, improving pedestrian walkways in Hudson and Strand Streets, implementing traffic calming and pedestrian crossings, and planting additional trees and landscaping</li></ul><p>The draft concept design also addressed a number of technical issues raised during engagements, including, but not limited to:</p><ul><li>stormwater </li><li> engineering services </li><li> archaeology, geotechnical issues and slope stability</li><li> parking and traffic circulation</li></ul><p>The Strand Street Quarry Redevelopment Urban Design and Landscape Framework (2023) provides an overview of the Draft Concept Design, which was developed prior to the start of the statutory processes. This resulted in refinements during the various internal and external consultation processes that followed. </p><p>
<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20strategies%2c%20plans%20and%20frameworks/SSQRedevelopmentUrbanDesignandLandscapeFramework.pdf" target="_blank">Access the Urban Design and Landscape Framework, 2023</a>. </p>
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<h2 class="sectHeading">Final Basic Assessment Report </h2></span>
<p>An application was made for environmental authorisation to undertake activities listed in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (107 of 1998) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, 2014 as amended (GNR 326 of 2017): </p><ul><li>
<strong>Activity 26 of Listing Notice 1 (GNR 327 of 2017): </strong>Residential, retail, recreational, tourism, commercial or institutional developments of 1 000 square metres or more, on land previously used for mining or heavy industrial purposes </li><li>
<strong>Activity 15 of Listing Notice 3 (GNR 324 of 2017):</strong> The transformation of land bigger than 1 000 square metres in size, to residential, retail, commercial, industrial or institutional use, where, such land was zoned open space, conservation or had an equivalent zoning </li></ul><p>In August 2024, we invited interested and affected parties to comment on the draft Basic Assessment Report for the site. </p><p>The Heritage Impact Assessment for the proposed redevelopment was tabled for decision at the Heritage Western Cape Impact Assessment Committee (IACOM) on Wednesday, 22 January 2025.</p><p> Following the conclusion of the public participation process, all reports were finalised and submitted to the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning for a decision on the environmental authorisation application. </p><p>
<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/SSQFinalBasicAssessmentReport.pdf" target="_blank">Access the Final Basic Assessment Report</a>.</p>
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<h2 class="sectHeading"> Living Heritage Project</h2></span>
<p>The proposed Strand Street Quarry redevelopment project also includes a Living Heritage investigation, which was conducted in unison with the draft Concept Design process in 2023. </p><p>The project collected and recorded the oral histories and intangible cultural heritage and social history of the Bo-Kaap community, particularly their connection to the quarry site and broader surrounding area. </p><div class="responsive-media">
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4Yq7sU6MA4g" frameborder="0"></iframe> </div><h4>Themes that emerged from the Living Heritage Project include: </h4><ul><li>The history of slavery and enslaved persons </li><li>Islam and other faiths </li><li>Cultural diversity and creole Bo-Kaap </li><li>Street names </li><li>Forced removals and dispossession </li><li>Family and artisanal businesses </li><li>Cultural icons and activism </li><li>Civic activism </li><li>Music </li><li>Sports </li></ul><h4>The intended outcomes of the project include: </h4><ul><li>uncovering and enhancing the heritage significance of the site itself as a place of deep historical and cultural value; </li><li>enabling use of the intended public spaces as a central hub for interpreting, exploring and displaying the living heritage of the Bo-Kaap and surrounds; </li><li>enriching the design concept for the site, and identifying specific projects such as installations, features or uses, in key public spaces on the site. These could be combined with the envisaged quarry wall walks, and feature at the public squares and markets, and the existing historic buildings.</li></ul><p>Findings from the Living Heritage Project have informed the planning and conceptual redevelopment framework of the Strand Street Quarry, ensuring that cultural heritage features are reflected in the site design and function. </p><div class="content-accordion"><div class="content-trigger contentTrigger"><h3>Access the resources<i class="icon button-down-arrow"></i></h3><div class="content-toggle contentToggle" style="display:none;"><div class="mobile-scroll"><ul><li>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE-pkKxmUaWg0iBNWEPEiRLxH4hjHJf8p" target="_blank">Video playlist<span class="icon link-external"></span></a>: interviews and process overview</li><li>
<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/SSQLivingHeritageProcessReport.pdf" target="_blank">Living Heritage Process Report</a>: sets out the methodology that was followed for this project, and provides recommendations for similar projects in the City.</li><li>
<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/SSQLivingHeritageSynthesisandNarrativeReport.pdf" target="_blank">Living Heritage Synthesis and Conceptual Narrative Report</a>: provides a synthesis and conceptual narrative of the spatial, social, and cultural heritage of the Bo-Kaap and surrounds, as well as guidance for the City's proposed Strand Street Quarry Redevelopment's urban design concept. </li><li>
<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/SSQDesignProposalsBrief.pdf" target="_blank">Living Heritage Design Brief</a>: provides specialist design input into a co-design process that translated the existing overarching conceptual framework and intangible heritage into a set of surface design options and recommendations. </li></ul></div></div></div></div>
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<h2 class="sectHeading">Land Use Application</h2></span>
<p>A land use planning application, including consolidation, subdivision, and rezoning of certain portions in terms of the City’s Municipal Planning By-law also form part of statutory processes was also required to obtain the development rights for the proposal.</p><p>The land use planning application was advertised for public comment from 17 April - 30 May 2025.</p><h4> Useful links:</h4><ul><li>
<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Forms%2c%20notices%2c%20tariffs%20and%20lists/Strand_Street_Quarry_Development_Application_Notice.pdf" target="_blank">Development Application Notice</a></li><li>
<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Graphics%20and%20educational%20material/Strand_Street_Quarry_Overview_Leaflet.pdf" target="_blank">Project Overview Pamphlet</a></li></ul>
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<h2 class="sectHeading">What's next?</h2></span>
<p>A crucial part of the future of this project will involve working with the relevant asset-custodian departments to understand how implementation could be progressed towards identifying and securing the necessary budgets (as the initiative is not currently funded). </p><p>Keep checking this page for updates on the progress of this exciting project.</p> | | GP0|#8889afed-08cb-4ea8-a34c-91d31771ca89;L0|#08889afed-08cb-4ea8-a34c-91d31771ca89|Redevelopment of Strand Street Quarry;GTSet|#dc1a8a1b-0357-45bc-b768-7d9a89c8ef94;GPP|#780150fb-25ca-42e5-8afb-af3efe7e13a3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Strand Street Quarry is one of three quarries in the Bo-Kaap, and a National Heritage Site. | 0 |
