ENGINEERING
CAPE TOWN’ S LATEST INDUSTRIAL ESTATE SHOWS HOW SMART DESIGN AND SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTING ARE TRANSFORMING THE COUNTRY’ S INDUSTRIAL SECTOR’ S FUTURE.
Once a neglected plot lacking biodiversity, the Arterial Industrial Estate in Blackheath, Cape Town, has been transformed into a flagship example of South Africa’ s next-generation green industrial infrastructure.
Developed by Growthpoint Properties, the 41 847m ² estate has been purpose-built for industries seeking contemporary, future-proof spaces that prioritise sustainability alongside operational efficiency.
WSP in Africa played a key role in shaping this transformation. Appointed as the project’ s sustainability consultants, WSP’ s specialists supported Growthpoint’ s vision for an industrial park that would attract tenants committed to low-carbon operations and resource-conscious growth.
DESIGNING FOR LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE
“ Our approach was rooted in guiding the team towards design solutions that matched both the site’ s conditions and the client’ s ambitions,” says Iphendule Ndzipho, Sustainability Consultant: Built Ecology, WSP in Africa. From the outset, WSP integrated environmental performance into every key decision, adopting the Green Star Custom Industrial Tool early in the process. This ensured that both the Design and As-Built stages met stringent sustainability criteria – earning the project a Four-Star rating at each phase.
FLEXIBLE SPACES FOR MODERN INDUSTRY
The development was completed in two phases and includes 11 highly flexible warehouse units supported by dedicated two-storey office blocks. With a total Gross Floor Area of 41 847m ², the estate provides 37 716m ² of warehouse space and 4 131m ² of office space. Its strategic position near road, air, and sea links improves logistics efficiency, while adaptable unit layouts enable tenants to expand smoothly as their operations increase.
A FUTURE-READY, LOW-CARBON ESTATE
“ We aimed to deliver a decarbonised design that lowers operational emissions,” notes Ndzipho. Sustainability interventions include low-carbon mobility options and efficient water use, along with biodiversity restoration.
The estate offers 392 standard parking bays, 12 accessible bays, and dedicated spaces for fuel-efficient vehicles and motorcycles. Bicycle facilities, equipped with showers and lockers, promote active commuting. Natural lighting, LED fittings, blinds to control heat gain, and centralised recycling all contribute to an environmentally friendly workplace.
A 162.4kW grid-connected solar photovoltaic system reduces reliance on the national grid, while cloud-based energy metering allows for real-time performance monitoring. Indoor environmental quality is improved through freshair systems and efficient VRF HVAC installations, including units with low-GWP R32 refrigerants.
Water-efficient SANWARE fittings, individual metering, and automated irrigation further decrease water use. Two new attenuation dams also aid stormwater management while restoring ecological features to the previously barren site.
With its Four-Star Green Star rating and recognition as Runner-Up for Best Quality Submission( New Developments) at the GBCSA Leadership Awards 2025, Arterial Industrial Estate stands as a benchmark for sustainable industrial development and a blueprint for South Africa’ s green industrial future. IB
30 INBOUND SA / December 2025