Spatial Development Framework - Executive Summary

STATUS OF THE SWARTLAND SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK (SDF), 2023-2027

The Swartland SDF, 2023-2027 will be adopted as a core component of the 2023 Swartland Integrated Development Plan (IDP) (Municipal Systems Act Section 26(e)). The rewrite of the SDF includes the review of the next five year cycle SDF projects and 20 year development plan and alignment of it with the Capital Expenditure Framework of Swartland Municipality. The rewrite forms part of Swartland IDP development cycle. 

VALUES AND PERFORMANCE QUALITIES

Planning shifted from separate development and modernism with its basis of functionalism to human and nature centred approaches to settlement making. Such settlements are scaled for pedestrians (neither pedestrians nor vehicles dominate); are compact (with high building densities); are integrated; composite parts reinforce each other; have a strong spatial feel with well-defined public spaces and have complex spatial structures offering choices i.e. intensity of interaction, privacy of living conditions, lifestyles, housing options and movement systems (physical, social and economic integration). Well-performing settlements and regions have qualities of Liveable Environments and Sustainable Settlements. These performance qualities are defined and described below:  

Definition, Features and qualities 

Liveable Environments

A liveable settlement satisfies more than the basic needs of a community as the individual as well as the community’s needs for social facilities and health facilities are met. Quality of life is key. (Van Kamp et al, 2003)

Liveable environments are recognized by the present relationship between people and their settlements and features economic growth, accessibility and Place identity 

Sustainable Settlements

Well-managed entities in which economic growth and social development are in balance with the carrying capacity of the natural systems on which they depend for their existence and result in sustainable development, wealth creation, poverty alleviation and equity (Department of Local Government and Housing, 2005).

A sustainable settlement improves the liveability of a settlement by reducing the impact on the environment through reduced use of resources and the generation of less waste.

 Sustainable settlements present the future relationship between settlement and environment and features Ecological integrity (Planet), Social justice (People) and Economical effectiveness (Prosperity 

STRUCTURAL TOOLS

Four spatial measures, definition, scale, flexibility and intensity, create positive settlements.  Each spatial measure consists of two opposite measures or structural tools as described below: 

These structural tools are enhanced by policies such as coastal management including setback lines and bioregional categories. 

STRATEGY

The SWOT analysis outlines the challenges and opportunities of the biophysical, social and economic and built environments (as per the Status Quo report) within the Swartland region. 

Strengths

• Settlements

Malmesbury – regional development anchor, Moorreesburg & Darling – rural development centres – agricultural and agri-tourism)

Tourism nodes (Riebeek Valley and Yzerfontein)

• Water sources / courses

Berg-, Diep- and Groenrivier

• Land cover

Mountains and hills (Paardeberg, Porseleinberg and Kasteelberg)

• Diversity in agriculture

Natural coastal belt (West Coast)

• Infrastructure

Roads (N7, R27, R45, R46, R315)

• Economy

Highest contributors

To Employment - commercial services and agriculture

To Gross Domestic Product - Commercial services and manufacturing 

Weaknesses

• Maintenance of infrastructure

Maintenance and upgrading of infrastructure to provide for future development

• Land demand and shelter

Housing backlog

• Low levels of income

Unemployment

Dependency on municipal support

• School drop-outs

Dependency on subsidies 

Opportunities

• Access value chains

Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) in Saldanha

Proximity to Cape Town

• Access to information

• Governance and regulation (Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA))

• Access to tertiary education

• World economy

• World nature conservation initiatives

• Catalytic projects enabling the provision of infrastructure 

Threats 

• Economic globalization and exporting scarce resources

• Climate change

• Urbanization

Population growth

• Availability of and expensive potable water

• Poverty

• Loadshedding

• Limited water resources (and drought)

Within settlements, the following transitions are important: 

From

Development in the sixties fragmented communities and destroyed the unique character and quality of life in rural settlements as it caused:

• Unsympathetic architecture and structure

• Wide roads and excessive black tar surfaces

• Conflict between pedestrians and motorcars

• Security gates, telephone poles, masts and satellite dishes 

• Loss of continuous open spaces

• Minimal landscaping (and being repeated day zero)

• No Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) and inadequate pavement provision 

To

Rejuvenate and grow settlements to be liveable, diverse and enable the population to be economically mobile. 

• Promote complementing architecture and plant trees

• Soften main roads in settlements and calm traffic

• Promote pedestrian and cycling pathways (non-motorized transport)

• Reticulate services underground (communication) instead of above ground

• Promote open spaces as part of an open space network

• Encourage landscaping and require each land unit being created to plant two trees

• Prepare for climate change

• Protect the agricultural landscape

From

Landscapes determines the status of assets and includes Agricultural landscape, Wilderness landscape, Waterways and connectors, Cultural-historical landscape, Connector routes and Corridors, social Foci and Community facilities and activities.

To

• Enhance landscapes and utilize assets as tourist destinations

• NMT and adequate and well-maintained pavement provision 

From

Settlement urban edges were delineated for 5, 10 and 20 year horizons whilst low densities prevailed. 

To

Intensify land uses within settlement edges in accordance with the Swartland Municipality: Land Use Planning By-law.

From

Swartland Municipality owns 1337.2ha common land and 3 208.7ha in total. A vacant land audit identified developable land within the urban areas. 

To

Enhance economic mobility and sustainable settlements.

From

Density norms were determined for each town. A densification rate was determined and infill development is encouraged in order for settlements to achieve its 50-year’s density parameters. 

To

Promote rejuvenation of settlement whilst keeping precinct character including infill development, increased floor factor and where subdivisions or renewal development can occur. 

To attain this vision, the overall goal or mission is:

• To promote conservation and tourism and linking the West Coast National Park to the City of Cape Town boundary and establish a Climate Change Corridors, one west of the R27 and along the West Coast and another unrelated corridor from the Riebeek Mountains to the Paardeberg.

• To enhance the economic opportunities presented at intersections and along the dual N7 (North South) and the R45 and R315 (East West).

• Through strengthening the sense of place of Swartland settlements and rural areas whilst enhancing opportunities to establish sufficient business and industrially zoned land. 

As per Swartland IDP, May 2023, the strategic goals are: 

1 - Community safety and wellbeing

2 - Economic transformation

3 - Quality and reliable services

4 - A healthy and sustainable environment

5 - A connected and innovative local government

SECTORAL PLAN DIRECTIVES

There are two sector plans and one strategy providing spatial and development directives as shown below:

LAND REQUIREMENTS

Land requirements for future settlement development are shown below: 

LAND SUPPLY AND SETTLEMENT FORM

To limit the extent of land required, settlement Form and Function should be enhance through integration:

BULK INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY

The development of land is dependent on availability of bulk infrastructure and services and contributes to the economy and future development in Swartland settlements.  The need for water and sewerage infrastructure is very high in Chatsworth and Riverlands.  Overall there is a need for upgraded water infrastructure in all settlements except Malmesbury.  Improved sewerage capacity is required in Koringberg, Moorreesburg, Kalbaskraal, Darling and Yzerfontein.  The need for increased electrical capacity, although indicated as medium, is high in Ilinge Lethu (9) and Saamstaan (11) as it is also required to unlock the catalytic project planned at De Hoop.  Electricity upgrades are also required in Riebeek West and Kasteel. 

Green / renewable projects for Swartland are provided for in Malmesbury and Darling.

DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS PER SWARTLAND SETTLEMENT

The themes and strategies translate into the following development proposals for Swartland settlement. 

Koringberg

As small rural town, develop town and its surrounding as a tourism and agri-tourism node 

Riebeek West

Ongegund

Riebeek Kasteel

Chatsworth

Riverlands

Malmesbury

Abbotsdale

DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS FOR THE SWARTLAND REGION

• Promotion of the N7 intensive rural corridor south and north of Malmesbury

• Promotion of transport and tourism node development on N7 (R45 and Klein Dassenberg) and R27 (R415)

• Enhance the formalization of the Paardeberg as a world wine and conservation destination (cross border activity).

• Promote Darling and Yzerfontein as a world biodiversity and film destinations

• Promote the coastal conservation park as an extension of the West Coast Park.

• Promote the Diep River as a historic link between Swartland and Cape Town (cross border activity).

• Finalization of declaration of Critical Biodiversity Areas (including Renosterbos remnants around Malmesbury and in Swartland).

• Enter into further negotiations with the national Department of Agriculture to exempt land earmarked for urban development.

• Implement economic mobility proposals according to ward needs.

• Enhance partnership through the establishment of a development forum.

• These proposals conclude the spatial plan for the Swartland and are illustrated by the Composite Spatial Plan below: