Harding to get shopping centre

Harding Corner will service both the town and outlying rural areas, providing shoppers with a convenient and easily accessible 9000m² shopping centre. It will be anchored by a national supermarket chain, supported by a number of national and local line shop tenants and have over 400 parking bays available for customers.

This R80 million shopping centre is the first phase of retail and commercial developments planned by Amber Dawn for Harding. An in-depth study into the area shows that not only is a strong retail offering required, but it also predicted positive growth in the future retail requirements, as well as the economic capacity of this largely rural community. Harding Corner is the start of the developments Amber Dawn has planned to satisfy that growing need.

Ed Peen, chairman of Amber Dawn, said "Shopping centres in these small towns often do not cater for the shopper. We have ensured that our centre has ample parking to allow for ease and convenience when shopping. We have also chosen a top notch team of professionals who will deliver a first class development."

Design team

Boogertman and Partners were employed to design the centre and have created a shopping centre that is focused on accessibility. It is a single storey design with buildings arranged in a U-shape around a central parking area. Bruce Douglas, the centre's architect, said "This shape allows for a more intimate and embracing space, and reduces the distance from parking to shops within the centre. Visually, the centre will take its inspiration from the local rural farming context and will be reminiscent of upmarket farmyard architecture." Covered walkways in steel and timber will shelter large glass shop fronts framed by with earth-toned accent walls. Service and delivery access will be conveniently located behind the centre.

The R80 million shopping centre is expected to break ground within the next four months. Construction time is estimated at 10 months and it is planned that the centre will open to the public by July 2012.

Amber Dawn is currently concentrating its efforts on retail and storage property developments, and Harding Corner is the first of many exciting projects it has in the pipeline.