LAST week, the City of eThekwini gave an update on the progress of its Inner-City Regeneration Programme. With the update, resurfaced discontentment from the ratepayers of North Beach, where a vacant pocket of land is earmarked for low-cost housing.

The prime piece of land on 71 Playfair Road, behind multi-star hotels, belongs to the City. Before 2015, it housed the Star Seaside Children’s Home, which later closed, resulting in the building facing dereliction and ultimately being demolished in 2020.

Since then, the North Beach Ratepayers Association (NBRA) and the business community have been critical of the social housing development, citing issues of safety and economic and property decline. Following the City’s update, the NBRA has reiterated its stance.

Also read: North beach social housing project stirs up concerns

“We were asked to lodge objections, and some of us did. Sadly, the plans will be steamrolled regardless. The social development project planned for North Beach is a case of poor planning. The area’s existing infrastructure, including sewers and roads, is already struggling to cope with the current population. With the influx of new residents, these systems will be severely strained, leading to potential health and safety issues,” shared the association.

Ratepayers reckoned North Beach was a prime tourist area, “and its appeal lies in its attractiveness and tranquility”.

eThekwini’s City Manager, Musa Mbhele, said in the update, “Three priority sites for social housing development have been identified and are in the detailed planning phase. These include 71 Playfair Road, Epsom Road, and Lancers Road. These will have a combined yield of around 600 units. Construction is expected to begin in 2026.”

Also read: Residents fume as city’s North Beach property deteriorates

He added that revitalising the urban core through upgraded infrastructure, safer public spaces, and mixed-use developments could attract investment, stimulate entrepreneurship, and draw more residents and visitors to the city.

NBRA is concerned that the development could increase noise, traffic congestion, and crime, all of which would negatively impact the local tourism industry. It added that property values would likely drop, affecting homeowners and investors who have trusted in the area’s potential. “This project will not only harm the local economy but also the livelihoods of those who call North Beach home.”

The association concluded that the city has existing safety and service delivery challenges, and wondered how it would cope with a significant increase in population.

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