The recent drought and the re-introduction of energy-saving by power utilities and rapidly escalating costs of electricity and water have made energy-and resource-efficient accommodation increasingly appealing to property developers, says the Green Building Council of South Africa.
The City of Johannesburg held a consultative meeting with members of the council to find solution to the challenges of the housing backlog in the Inner City on Thursday, 18 October 2018, at the Metro Centre in Braamfontein.
Picture by Lesego NgobeniThe session formed part of the process of turning the Johannesburg inner city into a construction site after the City released the 84 Properties Prospectus in August 2018.
The 84 properties are earmarked to be a part of the inner city regeneration and are expected to deliver affordable accommodation to residents including student accommodation and small business premises. The City is making these properties available in order to transform the inner city into a space where residents can live, work and play.
The stakeholder engagement session was attended by Executive Mayor Cllr Herman Mashaba, representatives from various property developers who are affiliates of the council, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Housing Cllr Meshack van Wyk and other City officials.
“The City is facing a housing backlog of about 300 000 units. The country has been experiencing an increasing number of people who are moving into cities from rural areas for job opportunities. Currently 63% of South Africans live in cities. This has increased the demand to infrastructure and we have to meet that demand,” said Mayor Mashaba.
The mayor added that at the same time, authorities needed to create inclusive, functional and vital cities that cater for all residents. The private sector also had a role to play in the provision of the affordable accommodation in the inner city.
“The City of Johannesburg through Development Planning and Housing Department also has introduced the inclusionary housing policy. It means to be financially sustainable and profitable, private developers and financiers must still create integrated, affordable, low-cost housing for residents,” said Mayor Mashaba.
“There is a major green revolution rapidly unfolding especially with new buildings in the City of Johannesburg in support of a more sustainable future,” said Dorah Modise, the council’s CEO.
“The City is a partner in the Climate Change initiative. It is also one of the green cities around the world and in Africa. In line with the exceptional sustainability benchmarks, all the new buildings in the Metro Centre precinct are rated four green stars by the Green Building Council of South Africa,” said Modise.
