SA Affordable Housing July - August 2019 // Issue: 77 | Page 26

PROJECTS Changing the face of affordable housing in SA South Africans have been waiting with bated breath for the past 18 months for the outcome of the national elections, which took its toll on the property market as it adopted a wait-and-see approach. By Cosmopolitan Projects | All photos by Cosmopolitan Projects Cosmopolitan Projects has already delivered 2 000 of 17 000 affordable housing units at Sky City. W ith the sixth democratic general elections now successfully behind us, Cosmopolitan Projects – like the rest of the country – is positive and excited about the future. Anton Crouse, managing director of Cosmopolitan Projects and Central Developments Property Group, says that the stage is set for the industry to prosper again and that Cosmopolitan Projects is ready to invest billions in the delivery of affordable housing. He adds that with a fairly positive outlook on GDP numbers over the next two to three years and President Cyril Ramaphosa firmly committed to good governance and growing the economy, the only thing that is still needed to truly stimulate the industry, is a cut in interest rates. After years of preparation, Cosmopolitan Projects now has six mega developments comprising 45 000 units lined 24 JULY - AUGUST 2019 up to deliver affordable housing throughout Gauteng over the next 10 years. These developments are situated in Lotus Gardens (Pretoria West); Sammy Marks (Pretoria East); Rosslyn (Pretoria North); Protea Glen (Soweto); Lion Park (Johannesburg North); and Sky City, Alberton (Ekurhuleni), which is already well under way. Ultimately comprising 17 000 units, Sky City is the largest privately funded affordable housing development in South Africa. Since September 2017 Cosmopolitan has delivered 2 000 homes at Sky City and the total residential project will be completed in phases over the next eight to 10 years at a value of about R10-billion. MORE THAN JUST HOUSING With its shift to mega developments, Cosmopolitan Projects’ approach has evolved into one of holistic property www.saaffordablehousing.co.za