City Invites Comment on Draft Policies

Known as the Draft Cape Town Spatial Development Framework (SDF), this city-wide policy aims to replace the outdated guide plans and spatial plans that are currently being used to guide land use decisions. The Draft SDF is complemented by eight integrated (Draft??) District Spatial and Environmental Plans, which will provide resolution to the City SDF at district scale, all of which are now available for public discussion and the submission of comment.

Alderman Brian Watkyns, chairperson of the City's Planning and Environment Portfolio Committee (PEPCO), said that it is essential that the outward expansion of the city is balanced with the need to optimise, maintain and upgrade existing infrastructure.

"The SDF will also ensure that growth in the city will now be managed in such a way that the phasing of development and infrastructure provision and upgrading are aligned,' said Ald Watkyns. The SDF aims to indicate areas that are best suited to urban development, areas that should be protected, and areas where development may occur if it is sensitively managed. In so doing the SDF will provide public and private investors with a clear idea of where they should invest. It will be used to assess applications submitted by property developers and will therefore guide changes in land-use rights.

"Growth that is managed in this way will also improve public transport systems and services," he noted," because it will ensure that industrial, commercial and mixed land uses, higher density residential development and community facilities are located on the major public transport routes, which will also improve the financial viability of these routes".

Another important strategy in the SDF is encouraging a better distribution of economic opportunities and work places, shops and trading areas.

These strategies will mean that the City is better able to manage urbanisation and transform informal settlements and townships into suburbs, and develop a socially and economically integrated city.

The SDF does not give or take away zoning rights.

The afore-mentioned will be implemented through five key strategies:
1. Enhancing the accessibility and value of the natural and rural environment and open spaces for the people of Cape Town.
2. Establishing an integrated grid-based movement system.
3. Consolidating and intensifying development on the accessibility grid.
4. Directing urban growth and promoting compact, integrated development.
5. Developing more great people places.

Copies of the full Draft Spatial Development Framework and the eight Draft District Plans, as well as the City's Draft Densification Strategy and Draft Development Edges Policy are available in print and PDF format. For more information, please visit the City of Cape Town website or forward an email

Submitting comment
The closing date for submitting comment on these draft plans and policies is 31 October 2009.

Issued by:
Communication Department, City of Cape Town