Construction starts on Westown, Shongweni's first mixed-use development

Source: Supplied

“The start of construction on Westown, the first retail and mixed-use component within Shongweni, is imminent ,” says Fundamentum CEO, Carlos Correia, “and tender calls have gone out for the first key infrastructural components. This catalytic project has been a long time in the making and the development team is excited to finally get it underway.”

New economic base

“In line with our urban sustainability ethos, we believe Westown, with an urban core at its heart, will be a prime example of an inclusive, high energy, safe and secure retail and mixed-use urban development,” continues Correia. “It will add to and enhance the existing natural character and environment of Shongweni, with a specific focus on building on and expanding the current active recreational activities of equestrian shows and horse-riding, mountain biking and trail running. This ‘new-town-in-town’ will create a new economic base for this sub-region and much of this economic base will be grounded in urban sustainability.”

Source: Supplied

This initial project aims to push the limits of planning for a larger Shongweni Urban Development initiative and in the development of Westown, move urban sustainability beyond existing multi-disciplinary paradigms of planning, engineering, architecture and urbanisation to an approach of inter-disciplinary integration that facilitates increasing levels of sustainability and innovation, providing for a permanent residential population that spans a broad socioeconomic profile, representative of the wider South African context.