THE Bitou municpality‘s plan to sell off erven in Plettenberg Bay to help fund affordable housing projects has met with objections from 53 residents, who have threatened to take legal action.
But not everyone in the town is against the municipality‘s Coming Together initiative, which will see the development of affordable housing in existing suburbs.
Mayor Lulama Mvimbi has repeatedly stressed that affordable housing is not to be confused with low-cost housing.
At a recent Plettenberg Bay Chamber of Business function, he said: “People tend to confuse low-cost housing with affordable housing. Low-cost housing is what you see in KwaNokuthula. I can assure you, there is no intention of building low-cost housing in the up- market suburbs of Plettenberg Bay.
“The growth of the local economy has highlighted a shortage of affordable housing for middle-income earners in professional careers. We are seeking to address this problem by selling land to help fund the construction of affordable housing.”
Earlier this year, proposals on housing developments were opened to the public for comments and objections.
Fifty-three objections to the municipality‘s plans to build multi-residential townhouses and blocks of flats were received and tabled at a recent council meeting.
Uif Gaavuzzi, who owns a house in Cutty Sark Avenue in the centre of town, sent a letter to the municipality via his attorneys, saying: “Should the municipality endeavour to proceed with the unlawful attempt to alienate the property, we hold instructions from our client to bring a High Court application to stop this.”
However, not everyone has been against the initiative, which will see homes built for professional middle-income groups who receive state subsidies but cannot afford the astronomical housing prices in Plettenberg Bay.
Chris Vlok, who has a house in Roxane Street, said: “Overall the concept of the Bitou municipality using municipal land for higher density development of middle-income housing is a good one. As a rule, such development is only economical and very cost-effective on a much larger scale.” - The Herald
But not everyone in the town is against the municipality‘s Coming Together initiative, which will see the development of affordable housing in existing suburbs.
The Western Cape government has instructed towns to densify and make use of vacant land in existing suburbs to accommodate middle-income home- owners instead of favouring sprawling urban developments. It costs more to lay infrastructure in outlying areas than it would to build homes in established suburbs.
Mayor Lulama Mvimbi has repeatedly stressed that affordable housing is not to be confused with low-cost housing.
At a recent Plettenberg Bay Chamber of Business function, he said: “People tend to confuse low-cost housing with affordable housing. Low-cost housing is what you see in KwaNokuthula. I can assure you, there is no intention of building low-cost housing in the up- market suburbs of Plettenberg Bay.
“The growth of the local economy has highlighted a shortage of affordable housing for middle-income earners in professional careers. We are seeking to address this problem by selling land to help fund the construction of affordable housing.”
Earlier this year, proposals on housing developments were opened to the public for comments and objections.
Fifty-three objections to the municipality‘s plans to build multi-residential townhouses and blocks of flats were received and tabled at a recent council meeting.
Uif Gaavuzzi, who owns a house in Cutty Sark Avenue in the centre of town, sent a letter to the municipality via his attorneys, saying: “Should the municipality endeavour to proceed with the unlawful attempt to alienate the property, we hold instructions from our client to bring a High Court application to stop this.”
However, not everyone has been against the initiative, which will see homes built for professional middle-income groups who receive state subsidies but cannot afford the astronomical housing prices in Plettenberg Bay.
Chris Vlok, who has a house in Roxane Street, said: “Overall the concept of the Bitou municipality using municipal land for higher density development of middle-income housing is a good one. As a rule, such development is only economical and very cost-effective on a much larger scale.” - The Herald
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