SA Affordable Housing March - April 2019 // Issue: 75 | Page 22

PROJECTS Protea Glen mega project continues to blaze a trail What started out as a small residential township, planned in 1990 by Township Realtors, has grown into stable integrated development of more than 26 500 houses that has all amenities nearby that include education, employment, hospitals and recreation. Images by SAARDA T he Protea Glen development is currently one of the largest affordable residential developments in South Africa consisting of 26 500 completed houses, of which 20% are fully bonded using the Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP) subsidy. It was always the developer’s (Township Realtors) vision not only to develop affordable homes but develop a fully integrated sustainable environment and to create enough work opportunities for the population to enable the residents to live and work in the same environment. Now that vision is taking shape. Protea Glen’s main developers in the area are Cosmopolitan Projects, Kiron Homes and Echo Lake Township Developers and the land developer is Township Realtors. All the streets are tarred with storm water structures and each stand is serviced with sewer, water and electricity. A library, community hall and land for sports facilities has been added on land donated by the Township Realtors. Four parks (a private initiative assisted by City of Johannesburg) has been completed. A fully operational police station has also been built and a new fire station was completed in 2018. The developers also constructed two bridges into Soweto to Protea North and Naledi Station to cope with increased foot and vehicle traffic in the area. Proposed Masingita City, this development will create an additional 45 000 temporary and 15 000 permanent work opportunities in the area. A library, community hall and land for sports facilities has been added on land donated by the Township Realtors. FOUR SHOPPING CENTRES There are currently four completed shopping centres in Protea Glen namely the Protea Glen Mall, Sizwe Shopping Centre and two smaller shopping centres that include retailers Pick n Pay and Shoprite Checkers. There are also smaller business hubs, doctor’s rooms, clinics, pharmacies and four garages in this development. Plus an eye hospital and a dental hospital has been built. A new 130-bed private hospital is also planned to be built next to Protea Glen Mall. 20 MARCH - APRIL 2019 The Protea Glen Mall forms part of the development and also affords employment opportunity to residents. www.saaffordablehousing.co.za