Construction of the R3,5bn Clairwood Logistics Park will begin in the first quarter of 2016, creating employment and business opportunities within the South Durban Basin.
KwaZulu-Natal’s MEC of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Michael Mabuyakhulu gave the project the go-ahead after his department found that the amended Environmental Impact Report (EIR) received from the Capital Property Fund in September 2014 complied with stringent regulations and adequately addressed concerns raised during an appeal.
The Clairwood Logistics Park will be located on the site of the former Clairwood Race Course which was purchased by the then Capital Property Fund (now Fortress Income Fund) in 2012 for R430m. Fortress Income Fund intends developing approximately 350,000m2 of warehousing with the remainder becoming paved yards to service the facilities. The development will also include an 8hectare wetland which will be fully rehabilitated.
“The Clairwood Logistics Park will meet growing demand for A-grade logistics and distribution facilities in the south of Durban, and improve the livelihoods of surrounding communities through job creation,” says Nico Prinsloo, development manager, Fortress Income Fund.
The new facility is expected to create an estimated 18,900 jobs during the four-year construction period and more than 4,600 permanent jobs after completion in December 2020.
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
