Objection to cheap Sea Point housing

Sea Point residents say they planned to challenge last week’s Municipal Planning Tribunal decision to cater for affordable housing in a new high-rise development in their beachfront area.

“The decision has been strongly objected. We are planning to appeal the decision in the coming week,” the Sea Point, Fresnaye and Bantry Bay Ratepayers and Residents’ Association said.

The association did not want to divulge further details, but confirmed it would be convening later this week, reported the Cape Argus.

“There is no official comment at this stage. However, the ratepayers will be having a meeting on Monday (yesterday) and we will be announcing our plans on Tuesday (today),” it said.

The tribunal for the North West District approved a land use application for a new skyscraper in Sea Point by developer Berman Brothers Group.

The tribunal ordered that inclusionary housing be part of the development.

The proposal put forward was to reserve 20% of the 140 flats for “affordable” housing.

In effect, 28 new flats, each between 35m² and 39m², would be reserved for rental to households whose monthly income was less than R18 000.

The 18-storey residential building would be located at the intersection of Main Road and Kloof Road, Sea Point.

Among the residents’ concerns were traffic congestion, the lowering of property values.

Ndifuna Ukwazi co-director Jared Rossouw said they were not surprised that residents wanted to appeal.

“The concerns of local residents are real, but unfortunately are not paramount when deciding what is in the interests of the city as a whole,” he said.

• Cheap housing in Sea Point