Westville Estate - February 2009

Since its launch in 2006, Westwood Estate has made a significant contribution to the changing face of Westville. The phenomenal success of the first-phase of the residential development paved the way for a substantial investment in the area, including the opening in October 2008 of the adjacent Westwood Mall and major upgrades to the road infrastructure.

Lance Gore of developers Spencer Gore said that in spite of the tough economy he was satisfied with the achievements to date and optimistic about planned future growth.

"We have handed over 320 apartments from the first phases of the residential development and currently have no stock available," he said.

"Considering the recent downturn in the property market, we were fortunate that Westwood Estate offered well-priced property to the highdemand, middle-market."

The 30 hectare estate, which will ultimately include apartments, town houses and freestanding units, is conveniently situated near 45th cutting, north of the M13 where it crosses the N2, close to schools, office parks and medical facilities.

Derek Naidoo, Deputy City Manager Procurement and Infrastructure, commented that the billion rand investment in the west of the city "accorded well with the city's vision of mixed-used developments: commercial, retail and residential".

In response Gore was upbeat about delivering on Westwood Estate's commitment to uplift the surrounding community. "Our R12 million investment in upgrading the Essex Terrace interchange has already resulted in an improvement to the traffic flow, and now that it is operational, the ETA will adjust the traffic signals' timing accordingly."

And while the final "tweaking" to the existing residential development infrastructure continues, Westwood Estate's promised "green belt" is taking shape. The ongoing environmental maintenance programme has already replaced 80% of the alien vegetation with indigenous landscaping.

And with the bulk earthworks for the first part of phase four - scheduled to consist of 128 townhouses and 171 freestanding units - having been completed, the developers are on track to release the first 38 of the freehold stands. "Owing to the waiting list for the stands, we are keen to move forward," said Gore. "There is every expectation that the 3 000 direct jobs created by the initial development.