Seems like you are looking in a very narrow area...

There are places like Glen Hills/Anil, Sunningdale, Umgeni Park, Durban North, or up the north coast like dysan has said.

ABSA bought 3 adjacent sites next to each other in the Ridgeside office park (Between the new Goba building going up and the 11F one that will be built at the top of the office park). The sites are right next to the M41.

Sources say they plan to relocate many of their divisions from around Durban to there as the new regional HQ, taking it away from the city centre.

The combined site is zoned for 25,000m2 and up to 7F

Here's an aerial view of the area, some taken in August and December last year, so it has moved on since then, but to give one a sense of scale of the site.

http://www.ridgeside.co.za/resize/640/uploads/gallery/2009/11/all.jpg

Below: The BOE Life/ NedLife development on the left and Holiday Inn Express next to it.
http://www.ridgeside.co.za/resize/640/uploads/gallery/2010/12/2010-11-21-0238.jpg

The bottom end of the Ridgeside office park - showing investec, BDO, Vodacom and others
http://www.ridgeside.co.za/resize/640/uploads/gallery/2010/12/2010-11-19-0015.jpg

View from the ocean
http://www.ridgeside.co.za/resize/640/uploads/gallery/2010/12/2010-11-19-0481.jpg

http://www.ridgeside.co.za/resize/640/uploads/gallery/2010/12/2010-11-21-0001.jpg

http://www.ridgeside.co.za/resize/640/uploads/gallery/2010/12/2010-11-21-0012.jpg

Thanks for posting these. I especially love those shots of the remnants of the lush coastal forest along the M4 (esp the 4th one). And yes, that undeveloped (but not for long) parcel of land is massive! I hope that part of it is rehabilitated to its former coastal forest state.

Looking good, no word on who the other 2 sites to form part of "design quarter" has been sold to?

They are all owned by zenprop. They were going to develop the design quarter yet changed their minds. They have not had take up of those sites yet. They need secured tennents and then will develop. The designs are all done

I know we have been put on the proffesionals list by Zen Prop as the HVAC guys for all 4 plots, my team did both the HI Express & BOE so soon as I hear anything on the other 2 I will let you guys know. Also as far as things stand, technically its still called "Design Quarter" even though the original was scrapped.

All images from www.grantpitcher.co.za

FANTASTIC views of the Ridgeside development


New intersection in front of the Unilever building to accommodate the Ridgeside commercial complex
http://www.grantpitcher.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/aerials_16032011_10.jpg


The view back down the M41 from Umhlanga Rocks Drive towards the Ridgeside complex and out to the Indian Ocean.
http://www.grantpitcher.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/aerials_16032011_127.jpg

A view of Ridgeside from the seaside
http://www.grantpitcher.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/aerials_16032011_16.jpg

http://www.grantpitcher.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/umhlanga-hospital.jpg

http://www.grantpitcher.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/holiday-inn-nedbank.jpg

WOW! Some of the best pics I've ever seen of this area. Fantastic urban planning. Durban is looking great! Thanks for posting.

Absolutely amazing pics.... different view on a place I drive thru pretty much every day.

Umhlanga Ridgeside - Inspiring Investor Confidence

10/20/2011 8:42:48 AM

With more than 220 000 square meters of bulk already transferred and key construction projects well underway, those who invested early in Umhlanga Ridgeside are smiling as the development continues to progress at a pace in line with land developer Tongaat Hulett’s expectations.

“Precinct 3 is sold out and we have released another 230 000m2 of commercial and residential bulk in Precinct 1,” said Tongaat Hulett Director, David Jollands.

“Construction work on the surrounding roads and intersections is proceeding well and the new M41 intersection has significantly improved traffic flow in the area.”

The four-phased Ridgeside development, consists of 140 ha of land creating a triangle bordered by Umhlanga Rocks Drive, the M4 and M41, that links Gateway, La Lucia Ridge Office Estate, The Manors, Lower La Lucia and Umhlanga Rocks Drive. It is ideally positioned along the busy North Coast corridor - 15 km north of the Durban CBD and harbour and 10 km south of King Shaka International Airport.

The development, which offers residential, retail and leisure opportunities, and has included major improvements to the road infrastructure in the area, is expected to create 125 000 jobs over the 10 year development period.

Contrary to a generally slow moving property market, Precinct 3 is moving ahead briskly with vacant commercial land opportunities amounting to 100,000m2 of bulk taken up over a period of three years. Investec, Vodacom and BDO have made Ridgeside their KZN home, and in the development sector, Zenprop, JT Ross Construction, Maponya, ERIS and a consortium headed up by FWJK Quantity Surveyors have been quick to stake their claims.

The sea facing aspect of all sites is a strong attraction as are the sites’ orientation relative to the sun, the cool Indian Ocean breeze, the incorporation of natural coastal forest elements in the planning, and Tongaat Hulett’s track record for delivery of well managed, environmentally sound developments.