UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL Planned, Local Development Corridors within eThekwini Municipality: The case of Bellair Road Development Corridor, Cato Manor, Durban. By Sireena Ramparsad 205507411 A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Town and Regional Planning School of Built Environment and Development Studies Supervisor: Professor Matthew Dayomi 2015 DECLARATION I, Sireena Ramparsad declare that (i) The research reported in this dissertation, except where otherwise indicated, is my own. (ii) This dissertation has not been submitted for any degree or examination at any other university. (iii) Graphs, tables and any other representation of data other than my own is specifically acknowledged and fully referenced. (iv) This dissertation does not contain any persons’ writing unless otherwise specifically acknowledged and fully referenced. Where other written sources are quoted: a. their exact words have been placed within quotation marks, specifically acknowledged and fully referenced and; b. re-writing of their general idea has been specifically acknowledged and fully referenced. (v) This dissertation does not contain data copied and pasted from the internet unless otherwise specifically acknowledged and fully referenced. (vi) I confirm that an external editor was not used. Signed: ……………………………… Date:………………………………….. Page | ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude during the course of this project to the following people: My family, I thank you for supporting me and encouraging me throughout this difficult time, in particular my mother Sheritha and, sisters Nandita and Kerina, I am ever so grateful for you all and for believing in me. My supervisor, Professor M. Dayomi for his insight and guidance throughout this study. The various informants who added invaluable knowledge and insight to this research. My fellow family, friends and colleagues for showing support throughout this session. To the Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda for giving me spiritual guidance. This thesis is dedicated to my mother Sheritha Hariram and my late grandparents Mr and Mrs R Harry. Page | iii ABSTRACT There is a growing concern in urban growth management as cities around the world are rapidly becoming [or have become] urbanized. Placed within the context of sustainable urban form and development, this study demonstrates the implementation of planned local development corridor initiatives using the Bellair Road Development Corridor case study. The main aim is to explore the factors responsible for influencing the extent to which the corridor is achieving its objectives. Using research methods such as interviews, observation, land use surveys, statistics and secondary data, it was found that the Bellair Road Development corridor is complex with various facets of land use and transportation planning. All these aspects need to function in cohesion to reach initial objectives. Also, changing local dynamics influence the functionality of a corridor which may alter the status quo, hence constant monitoring and evaluation is imperative. Importantly, it was found that management and market forces play a major role in the corridor reaching its objectives. This is true especially when the private sector is incorporated. While the initial anticipation was for the area to progress to a mixed income environment to support economic activity, this has not been attained. Market forces and affordability have kept business slow and crime is driving away private sector investment. While in certain instances there is interest from private sector to purchase property, this is hampered by lack of registered land which needs township registers to be opened and land to be consolidated and subdivided to be sold via public tender. Other land related issues include land invasion and the pressing needs to provide homes to an ever increasing informal settlement. Business support is available to aid small business in the area. Here an important lesson is learnt, while infrastructure and access to services is made available, in such a context, there needs to be further assistance to would-be investors. The lack of suitable trip attractions along the corridor/activity street creates a poor number of people spending their money within the local area and travel outside to obtain goods and services. Road/street upgrades and links are needed to de-isolated the community and accelerate integration with other areas. The attractiveness of the corridor is also poor with an unkempt natural environment, pollution and increased informality, which drives investors away. A common vision and integration of different actors is a key factor towards the positive implementation of this initiative. It was also found that the development corridor concept and principles exhibit sustainable urban form. Also, within South Africa, there is a widespread consensus on the positive impacts of the corridor for integration and sustainable resource allocation as seen through local and regional policies and strategic frameworks. Page | iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...iv LIST OF FIGURES…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..….vii LIST OF TABLES………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..….....viii LIST OF ACRONYMS ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..….ix CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 1.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 2 1.2 BACKGROUND ...................................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 STUDY AREA .......................................................................................................................................... 4 1.4 MOTIVATION ........................................................................................................................................ 7 1.5 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY ................................................................................................................ 7 1.6 PROBLEM STATEMENT ......................................................................................................................... 8 1.7 RESEARCH QUESTION ........................................................................................................................... 8 1.8 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES ......................................................................................................................... 8 1.9 SUBSIDIARY RESEARCH QUESTIONS .................................................................................................... 9 1.10 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................................. 9 CHAPTER 2: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ............................................................................................................ 16 2.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 16 2.2 MODERN, POST-MODERN AND SUSTAINABLE CITIES: HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND IMPACT ON CURRENT URBAN LANDSCAPES....................................................................................................................... 16 2.3 SUSTAINABLE CITIES ........................................................................................................................... 17 2.4 PRINCIPLES OF URBAN RESTRUCTURING AND SUSTAINABLE URBAN FORM................................... 18 2.4.1 SUSTAINABLE URBAN FORM: DESIGN CONCEPTS ......................................................................... 19 2.4.2 COMPACT CITIES AND RELATED APPROACHES ............................................................................. 21 2.4.3 RELATED CONCEPTS ....................................................................................................................... 23 2.5 THE SOUTH AFRICAN CITY .................................................................................................................. 25 2.5.1 THE EVOLUTION OF DEVELOPMENT CORRIDORS IN SOUTH AFRICA ........................................... 26 2.6 POST-APARTHEID POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND PLANS ...................................................................... 28 2.6.1 NATIONAL LEVEL ............................................................................................................................ 29 2.6.2 PROVINCIAL LEVEL ......................................................................................................................... 30 2.6.3 ETHEKWINI LOCAL STRATEGIC PLANNING .................................................................................... 30 2.6.4 CATO MANOR LAND USE MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK (LUMF), 2003 ....................................... 36 2.6.5 CATO MANOR LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK REVIEW AND DEVELOPMENT OF A SUSTAINABILITY SUPPORT MODEL, 2011 .......................................................................................... 37 2.7 CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................................................... 38 CHAPTER 3: LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................................................ 40 3.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................