Urban Fringe Development Debated In South Africa

The township of Knysna in Western Cape Town, South Africa, has long suffered with a housing shortage that is exacerbated by a great divide between the rich and poor. Town planners have put forth a draft development framework to plan for increasing much needed middle-income housing along the urban fringe, but with many limitations. The planning officials have put forth the limits to avoid urban sprawl, but many developers argue that the limitations are too tight and that they disregard the area's population growth rate.

"The Knysna municipality’s priority is to provide housing for Knysna residents who fall in the middle-income group, a broad spectrum of employees across a range of sectors including banking staff, teachers and other state employees. Knysna Chief Town Planner Ed Hill says sufficient land has already been provided for upmarket developments as well as for subsidized housing of low-income groups, which is why the focus is now shifting to the middle-income group."

"But developers say the plan does not take into consideration Knysna’s rapid growth, warning that without greater provision for expansion the town will suffer as already-high unemployment figures increase further. Some developers say the new spatial development plan does not cater for their needs, and plans that have already been submitted may be in limbo as a result."