Seven years after selling the first homes at Bardale Village in Blue Downs, this new suburb will finally be getting two brand-new public schools.
In response to a question in the Provincial Legislature this week, Education MEC Donald Grant announced that a new secondary school and a new primary school will be built in Bardale Village. The secondary school is already under construction on a site adjacent to Bardale Village and is scheduled to open for the 2013 academic year.
Bardale Village’s development framework includes land allocated for four educational facilities, which will eventually provide for the approximate 3 000 families that will live there on completion.
IHD has worked hard to unlock the development potential of these sites in order to provide for the much needed education and commercial nodes over the years. After many years of negotiation with the department of education and the department of public works, an agreement was finally reached in September 2012 to transfer 5.6 hectares of land to the Western Cape Government for the development of this primary school.
IHD has also submitted plans to the City of Cape Town to develop a crèche and pre-school facility in Bardale Village. It is hoped that these educational facilities will be ready to be occupied by the 2014 school year.
IHD has sold approximately 700 homes in phase 1 and 2 of Bardale Village, with current prices ranging from R430 000 to R720 000. The next residential phase of Bardale Village will include apartments to cater for more affordable entry level homes and the infrastructure for the next phase is due for construction in 2013. This will require an investment of approximately R45-million in infrastructure development, reflecting the confidence that the developers of Bardale Village have in the affordable housing market in Western Cape. Demand for these properties remains high, with the availability of mortgage finance remaining the most influential brake on transfers.
The developers are hoping to attract a major retail brand to take up the commercial and retail opportunities that exist at Bardale Village. Research has shown that the potential for a successful supermarket is now viable and with the rate of development due to increase once the schools are open, the supermarket’s potential is set to grow exponentially.
The developers’ pioneering vision to develop this once derelict farm land into a thriving and healthy community will then finally be on track.
For more, contact Peter Jones, Group General Manager of the Integrated Property Group of companies, developers of Bardale Village. www.bardalevillage.co.za