Eastern Cape government in partnership with Amalgamated Banks of South Africa (ABSA) Devco will launch the Thornhill integrated housing project which creating 5 000 new homes for shack dwellers in Port Alfred.
The launch will be held on site at Thornhill housing project in Ndlambe municipality on 28 April 2010. The first phase of this ambitious project, centred in Port Alfred, will be completed before the end of this year, giving about 500 families access to subsidised home ownership, a joint product of the Department of Human Settlements, Ndlambe local municipality, and Absa Devco.
Thorn hill's 5 000 residential units will be split almost equally between subsidised units (2 350) and affordable bonded units (2 250). The remainder (400) will be affordable rental units. As the implementation agent, Absa Devco has already overseen the construction of engineering services and seven show houses on the site.
Construction of these units began last year and is expected to be completed by October 2010. The total cost of the project is R900 million and R40 million for the 509 units. The Thornhill Integrated Housing Development project is based on the Breaking New Ground (BNG) development concept and incorporates BNG principles such as:
* The integration of subsidised, rental and bonded housing
* The provision of engineering services at a higher level than many other townships, and applied consistently throughout the township
* The provision of ancillary facilities such as schools, clinics and commercial opportunities
* A combination of different housing densities and types, ranging from single stand units to double storey units and row houses.
This is a ministerial housing project ranging from bonded houses in the affordable housing category to three typologies of subsidised housing units and institutional (rental) housing units. The project is an integrated housing project, bringing bonded properties physically closer to the subsidised component of the project.
Social integration is further stimulated and facilitated through sharing of a variety of community facilities and the business centre of the project. One example of such facilities is a well planned, constructed and maintained sport facility.
The current scope is limited to phase 1A due to limited availability of water for residential development. It is envisaged that further phases of the project will precede when the bulk water supply problem has been resolved, as well as commensurate upgrade in the capacity of Port Alfred waste water treatment facility. Beneficiaries currently reside in Nemato, New Rest and Station Hill in informal areas.
The launch will be held on site at Thornhill housing project in Ndlambe municipality on 28 April 2010 by MEC Nombulelo Mabandla, Ndlambe Executive Mayor, ABSA Devco representative and national Minister Tokyo Sexwale.
Contact:
Lwandile Sicwetsha
Cell: 071 6711 770 or 079 873 6400
Issued by: Department of Housing, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
21 April 2010
