Linbro Park stakeholders unite to tackle failing infrastructure with R1bn plan
The voluntary, non-statutory initiative aims to rescue the region from infrastructure stagnation by securing up to R1-billion in investment.
A group of property developers and landowners has launched the Linbro Park Management District (LPMD).
The voluntary, non-statutory initiative aims to rescue the region from infrastructure stagnation by securing up to R1-billion in investment.
The coalition includes some of the country’s largest public and private property investment companies, including Balwin Properties, Improvon, Equites, and Galencia, among others, as well as individual plot owners.
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Positioned along the vital OR Tambo-Randburg corridor, Linbro Park sits just 8km from Sandton and 25 minutes from the City’s international airport and has the potential to become Johannesburg’s premier mixed-use hub.
The area currently has 10 000 residential units, projected to expand to 25 000, and an estimated 700 000 to a million square metres of warehousing and logistics space, positioning it as one of Johannesburg’s most important emerging logistics and industrial nodes. Seventy-five per cent of this space is held by institutional investors.
While pockets of excellence, such as housing estates and world-class logistics and warehouse facilities, are established in the area, its potential is compromised by a failing road system, poor drainage, and an inconsistent supply of power and water.
“Linbro Park is one of the last remaining greenfield frontiers in the City and has attracted serious investment over the last seven years. However, we have now reached a tipping point where no one entity can go it alone,” said Jenny Rose, chairperson of the LPMD.
“Ongoing value will be determined by how well we work together to secure the necessary funding in order to implement a unified development strategy to meet the infrastructure needs of the area,” she adds.
Linbro Park has an approved Spatial Development Framework aligned with the City of Johannesburg’s 2040 vision.
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However, it requires an estimated R500m to R1b in infrastructure investment – specifically roads, drainage, water, and electricity – to reach its full potential.
Assistant director of the City of Johannesburg’s planning office, Liana Strydom, said, “Linbro Park is integral to the metropolitan development corridors connecting Randburg to OR Tambo.”
“Without optimal coordination between the City and the private sector entities, everyone loses out.”
“The City currently lacks the capital to install the necessary infrastructure alone,” said Rose.
“Unless invested stakeholders come together to solicit and coordinate funding, development will remain piecemeal.”
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The formation of the LPMD changes that narrative.”
By stabilising the infrastructure of this 400-Ha precinct, the LPMD aims to secure the necessary investment in infrastructure, drive job creation, enhance property values, and contribute significantly to Johannesburg’s 2040 Spatial Development Framework.
The District invites institutional capital to participate in what is arguably the most strategic urban renewal project currently available in Gauteng.
“Ultimately, a unified approach to Linbro Park’s infrastructure development is vital to its longevity,” added Simon Knutton, founder of consulting engineering firm KCE Consulting.
“By aligning our resources and vision now, we can unlock the future value of this region for every stakeholder involved – from the city and the developers to the residents who call it home.”
