INDUSTRY EXPERTS
INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Tongaat Hulett Developments open for business
When realised inclusively , agricultural land conversion generates impressive returns – not just infrastructure investment and public sector income , but also profound social benefits , including sustainable employment and local economic development .
Tongaat Hulett is still primarily what it has always been : a major agribusiness involved in farming , milling and refining sugar cane throughout Southern Africa . But for the past 25 years its development division has also been converting surplus agricultural land into infrastructurally serviced real estate for residential , commercial , industrial , resort and mixed-use developments in KwaZulu- Natal . With an all-inclusive approach to land conversion , it has set out to achieve the strategic objective of unlocking maximum value for all stakeholders invested in the 8 000 hectares of developable land under the company ’ s ownership .
Tongaat Hulett Developments sets the benchmarks and parameters from which development unfolds . In addition to a development framework , the company provides the platforms for future built environments . These include establishing and communicating the urban vision , implementing infrastructure and environmental best practice , and establishing security and urban management structures .
INFRASTRUCTURE
Infrastructure installation is a prerequisite for maximising the value of land before selling it to developers . For smaller-scale projects , Tongaat Hulett ’ s public infrastructure spend is recovered through the sale of land , while the installation of medium-scale ( metropolitan ) and large-scale ( regional ) infrastructure often requires collaboration with governmental agencies .
Tongaat Hulett works in close collaboration with local and national government to support and drive the requisite infrastructure delivery on converted land , for the improvement of services delivery and urbanisation .
“ It is an imperative to work closely with the authorities to address challenges associated with infrastructure capacity and delivery . This is in an effort to find sustainable , solid solutions ,” says Mike Deighton , managing director of Tongaat Hulett Developments .