A bold plan to create new business hubs in Grahamstown's townships was announced at a Mayoral Business Forum meeting at the Graham Hotel recently.
A bold plan to create new business hubs in Grahamstown's townships was announced at a Mayoral Business Forum meeting at the Graham Hotel recently.
The Township Regeneration Strategy (TRS), which will be driven by Port Elizabeth-based town and regional planners Metroplan, in association with Makana Municipality, aims to create clusters of sustainable businesses and public facilities in seven new activity spheres.
The project was approved by the Economic Development, Tourism and Heritage Committee. Each “node” will cluster facilities – including clinics, sports grounds, shops, schools and formal business zones – within walking distance of each other.
The project aims to create an optimal mix of economic activities that attract visitors because of the convenience of being able to see to a number of needs efficiently without spending time and money travelling to the CBD. Ndaba Ndzombane, Metroplan director, said newly established business nodes throughout Grahamstown would improve access.
“People will no longer have to depend on the Grahamstown CBD for supplies. The project will provide the necessary services within a 600m walking distance from township residences,” Ndzombane said.
The TRS will provide infrastructure and access to public transport and will promote investment in smaller businesses. Nodal development will be implemented through pedestrian-friendly streets, recycling derelict buildings into businesses and greening the city through lighting and the planting of trees. “The vision is to diversify the Grahamstown economy,” says Ndzombane.
Access to the new business areas would be improved by upgrading township roads to improve mobility and access to public transport, creating “activity” streets. The project would provide various employment opportunities and would aim to keep smaller businesses sustainable. The envisaged five-year trajectory of the project will be divided into short-, medium- and long-term aspects.
“I would expect some of the roads and residential infill projects to take up to five years, because of costs, and the time taken to assemble land and obtain the necessary land use subsidies. The bulk of the environmental projects will be phased in during the next three to five years. A lot will depend on Makana Municipality pushing for implementation,” says Ndzombane.
Retail nodes, providing people with supplies and services currently only on offer in the CBD, are to be spread out for easy access. The project also promotes the idea that business should stay in the township so they can expand and flourish.
