A look at Tshwane’s R1.8 billion mixed-use green development

Seen at Central Square, Menlyn Maine ribbon cutting, were Billy Masetlha, Francois Roos, Ngoako Ramatlhodi, Gauteng Premier David Makhura, Cllr Randall Williams and Kapei Phahlamohlaka Property Investments PIC.

Central Square, a R1.8 billion mixed-use development which opened on Wednesday. is set to become a prominent landmark in Menlyn Maine district of Tshwane – the country’s first “green city” precinct.

The greater Tshwane metro is seeing tens of billions of rands being pumped into new developments. Central Square takes up 65,000m² in the heart of the 315,000m² Menlyn Maine decentralised green city mega-development.

Menlyn Maine near the Menlyn Shopping Mall, is SA’s first green, mixed-use city precinct. As a partner of the Clinton Climate Initiative, it is one of 16 green "cities’ being built in various countries, and the only one in Africa.

Also Read: Parking Tariffs — Are we Paying too much at our Shopping Malls?

In line with Menlyn Maine’s sustainability benchmarks, all buildings in the precinct must achieve a minimum rating of 4 Green Star SA by the Green Building Council of SA. The developers are also targeting a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighbourhood Development certification, a US standard, for the precinct.

Central Square has achieved a Green Star SA custom mixed-use rating, the first retail development to receive the rating from the Green Building Council of SA.

It co-owned by joint investors Menlyn Maine Investment Holdings and the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) represented by the Public Investment Corporation (PIC).

Also Read: SA facing Shopping Mall oversupply despite consumer pressure

It will introduce a compelling offering of 30,000sqm of exceptional boutique-styled mall development with over 50 hand-picked retailers, restaurants, and entertainment experiences.

Gauteng Premier David Makhura opened the Menlyn Maine Central Square, in Pretoria, calling it a “very important development” for Gauteng.

Makhura also revealed that Central Square would benefit from the proposed expansion of the Gautrain rail system to Mamelodi.

Henk Boogertman, Architectural Director of Menlyn Maine Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd says: “Many of Central Square’s retailers and restaurants are likeminded in prioritising sustainability, including our large grocery stores, Spar, Pick n Pay, and Woolworths. With sustainability leaders coming together in a single green city, Central Square has become an exciting platform for collaborative environmental innovation.”

Its other in-store initiatives include collection points to recycle light bulbs, batteries, plastic bags and ink cartridges, and enterprising recycling initiatives, many of which create opportunities for employment.

The next major development for the node is the extension of Menlyn Park shopping centre, which will become the largest shopping centre in Africa, usurping Durban’s Gateway Theatre of Shopping.

It will also be larger than its Gauteng neighbours, the iconic Sandton City and the recently opened Mall of Africa.

Also Read: Shopping Centre Investor warns on Retail Cannibalization

Menlyn Park, owned by private company Pareto, is being extended by 50,000m² at a cost of R2bn, including refurbishments of parts of the centre. The super regional mall will measure 169,253m² by November, and contain some 500 stores.

Menlyn Maine will also be home to a residential quarter, offices, the Sun International Time Square casino, a park, a five-star hotel and an 8 000-seater multipurpose arena development.

The rest of the precinct will take about four or five more years to complete at a cost of about R10 billion.