Gateway health club to boost visitor flow

"The Gateway expansion follows a series of extensions since the R1,4 billion centre opened in September 2001, in particular to house large national chain stores," says Brent Wiltshire, business development executive of the Old Mutual Property Group.

"Gateway has been a catalyst for development in the Umhlanga area since the new millennium. However, till now, a health club, notably with national reciprocity, has been a missing element in the mix of retail, commercial, residential and hotel projects that have helped to establish the town centre. "

Mike Rodel, regional general manager of Old Mutual Property Group, says the Virgin Active club will open at Gateway in the first quarter of 2007. Virgin Active has established 80 clubs nationwide with a total of 450 000 members.

"The club will be at the northern end of the complex and will offer plenty of parking for members. It will be built on two levels over 4 724m² through a conversion of existing parking decks. "

"Gateway has a broad appeal because of its retailer mix and entertainment offering and enjoys the largest number of visitors to any centre managed by Old Mutual Property Group. The 2005 foot count was 21 million, 19% up on 2004, and included 2.9 million in December, a 10% gain."

The expansion at Gateway is part of a pipeline of development projects and refurbishments worth more than R600 million that are being undertaken by Old Mutual Property Group, says Wiltshire. The pipeline is set to grow even further as assessments and concepts are finalised on a mix of commercial, industrial and residential projects throughout South Africa, including KwaZulu-Natal.