Johannesburg - An innovative joint venture in Heidelberg between the Lesedi municipal council and private developers has resulted in a plan to develop a R600 million regional shopping centre that will also create up to 1 200 permanent jobs.
The 35 000m2 Heidelberg Mall is being developed by Flanagan & Gerard, a co-owner of the mall and a leading shopping centre developer, and is designed to complement the existing Heidelberg CBD.
Its investment and involvement was facilitated by Marble Gold, the joint venture partner of the Lesedi municipal council. “Heidelberg Mall will be not only a regional retail destination but also en economic catalyst for the wider region,” said Buti Mokoena, the local businessman who heads Marble Gold.
The location of the site fulfils all the fundamental criteria for the development of a regional shopping centre. It is at the south-west quadrant of the Jacobs Road interchange – the major access to Heidelberg from the N3 – with Jacobs Street also being the primary link to Nigel, which town falls in the centre’s primary trade area.
The site also enjoys significant exposure to the N3 toll road, Groenkloof Road and Jacobs Street in Heidelberg.
Patrick Flanagan, an executive director of Flanagan & Gerard, said the site would draw shoppers from Heidelberg, Nigel, Balfour, Greylingstad, Villiers and surrounding farming communities, and from traffic passing on the N3.
Flanagan said the developers were working with a team of top architects because of the regional status of the project, with local Heidelberg firm VDM Architects partnering with MDS Architects, the specialist retail architects responsible for Sandton City and Eastgate and other premier shopping centres.
Construction on the mall started last month and it is scheduled to open in October next year. Mokoena said the development was intended to generate both short- and long-term benefits for the community.
“Our forecasts indicate that 700 to 800 construction jobs will be created, with 80 percent of those filled by local workers. We anticipate that the mall will also create 800 to 1 200 permanent positions, excluding any seasonal, part-time jobs,” he said.
Security, cleaning and maintenance services for the mall would be secured from local providers, generating opportunities for small businesses in the area.
In addition, the developers have committed to source building materials and appoint sub-contractors from the local community wherever possible.
The joint venture partners have placed a high priority on transparency and communication, with Marble Gold director Jaco Coetzer facilitating liaison between the developers and the Lesedi council. A facilitator has also been appointed to ensure clear communication between the community, developers, owners and main contractor. - Business Report