The inauguration of a property cluster in the Metro is set to facilitate more efficient land planning and development processes between major stakeholders in the property sector and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
This is an initiative of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, which over the last year has facilitated the establishment of various sectoral and geographic clusters geared towards representing the needs, views and interests of business and the private sector.
The property cluster has appointed a steering committee headed by Liesel Greyvenstein as chairperson, James Flanagan (vice chairperson), Lana Janse Van Rensburg (treasurer), and Cathy Ossher (Secretary).
Chamber Acting Chief Executive Ashwin Daya says one of the property cluster’s key objectives will be to leverage new property investment to the benefit of the Metro.
“The cluster will furthermore lobby the municipality to support quick turnaround times for land use and development applications that are presently hindering growth and development. To this end the cluster will submit a list of issues currently being experienced by the property sector to the Municipality in order to expedite resolution between the respective municipal departments,” Daya says.
For years the local property industry has experienced delays in getting land use applications approved on time by the municipality which has negatively affected business confidence and property investment in the Metro. This includes delays in getting site development plans and occupation certificates issues as well as properties being rezoned.