On August 24th, 2024, the Development Action Group (DAG) hosted an important information session at their office, bringing together micro-developers and homeowner landlords to discuss proposed amendments to the City of Cape Town’s Municipal Planning By-law, 2015 (MPBL). This event organized through DAG’s project, Contractor and Developer Academy (CDA) marked a big win in the ongoing advocacy for creating an environment that supports the development of affordable small-scale rental units in township areas.
For years, micro-developers and homeowner landlords have faced challenges, often operating without government support. The City of Cape Town’s response to support this sector is a positive development, potentially facilitating the delivery of much-needed affordable accommodation in Cape Town. This information session brought together over 40 diverse stakeholders, including micro-developers and homeowner landlords, built environment professionals such as conveyancers, town planners, architects, and contractors, as well as researchers, civil society representatives, and financial institutions, to engage with the proposed by-law amendments at the DAG office. Additionally, to share insights, and collaborate on shaping a more supportive framework for small-scale rental housing.
The day began with a presentation from Chuma Giyose, the CDA Project Coordinator, who set the scene by explaining how DAG CDA has been supporting the small-scale rental sector. The session quickly moved into the heart of the matter, with David Gardner, a key figure in the small-scale rental housing programme and Project Manager at the City of Cape Town, leading the small-scale rental mayoral priority programme. Gardner contextualized the by-law within the broader framework of affordable housing and provided a detailed analysis of the proposed amendments. He highlighted key points such as the inclusion of affordable small-scale rental flats, with specific guidelines on the number of units allowed on zoning residential 1 and 2, and building height restrictions.
Following Gardner’s presentation, the group discussions became a critical part of the session, allowing participants to engage directly with the proposed by-law amendments. DAG plans to consolidate the inputs from these discussions into a public comment on the proposed by-law, helping to inform the bylaw before it’s finalised.
The outcome of the session will be a bylaw comments submission under the banner of TDF. Other developers and built environment professionals (BEPs) who were not part of the session are encouraged to submit individual or collective responses by 23 September. This commitment to collaboration and advocacy highlights the dedication of all involved in ensuring the continued growth of the small-scale rental housing sector, providing affordable housing solutions in township areas.
