Things look up for development

THINGS seem to be looking up for the abandoned development on Main Road in Escombe.

According to local councillor, Andre Mitchell, the site developers, Lalljith and Vershal Mohanlall of Tropicana Heights Developments have applied for special consent to resume building again after a number of legal battles halted construction more than a year ago.

The development, which was valued at R50 million in 2012, is the brain child of Lalljith Mohanlall who first submitted plans for the building in 2004, but objections were lodged against the proposed six-storey building and permission was granted for a four-storey building instead.

Thereafter, Mohanlall had a long fight to evict squatters who had set up homes and shebeens on the land. In January 2012, the final plans for the shopping complex were submitted then held until March 2012 when they were accepted by town planning, and were allegedly forwarded to various departments but were never formally approved.

Construction went on nonetheless, with the Mohanlalls’ saying they proceeded with the building for fear of facing fines of up to R50000 a day for every day past the building deadline and the fact that they were under pressure to have the development up and running by November 2012.

Building suddenly halted towards the end of 2012 with allegations of cash problems and legal battles. In one of the court cases, attorney Nithia Moodley stated that Tropicana Heights Developments had won the case on the basis of the judge’s ruling that the urgency of the application was insufficient.

In the latest court case Tropicana Heights Development was fined R80000 but was granted permission to apply for special consent which they have done.

The special consent application is now on its third and final leg which requires the developers to advertise their intention to continue building.

Veshal Mohanlall, Lalljith’s son, confirmed that special consent had been applied for.

“We have approached the municipality and are currently following all necessary requirements and formalities accordingly. We are by law, required to advertise our intentions in a local newspaper to notify the public, who then have 21 days to raise any objections. We are also obligated to personally notify the 60 odd residents who are in close vicinity to the development. Thereafter, if there are no objections, construction could resume again in the next three to four months.”