Bulawayo seeks to develop another low-density suburb

By The NewsDay | Jun. 9, 2017 | 2 Min read

THE Bulawayo City Council has approved plans for the development of a new low-density residential area along Victoria Falls Road.

By NQOBANI NDLOVU

According to latest minutes of the council’s town, lands planning committee, the proposed suburb, located eight kilometres north-west of the city, will be known as Highmount North.

The project now only awaits Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere’s signature.

“The proposed Highmount North residential development is meant to cater for the high-income earners, who are part of the ballooning council waiting list,” the minutes read.

“The site is bounded by the existing Highmount suburb to the south, to the north and west the site is bounded by Trenance and to the east by Neqi and Harrisvale townships.

“In terms of the operative City of Bulawayo masterplan, the proposed site is zoned for residential development, and the total area covered is approximately 63 9072 hectares in extent.”

Bulawayo’s housing waiting list stands at 100 000, but the council has only managed to service 15 000 housing stands in the last 15 years despite the rise in demand for houses.

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Between 2007 and 2008, council turned to Umguza Rural District Council seeking land to address shortages of housing and development space.

However, the talks collapsed because of hyper-inflation, but negotiations have been re-opened.

“The development of the low-density residential area will have positive and negative impacts to the environment of the planned area.

“The following are positive impacts identified; the provision of residential accommodation to the people of Bulawayo, thereby, reducing the city’s waiting list, which stands at over 100 000 people, the provision of better social facilities for the people in the city, the improved drainage system for the area, the planting of fruit and ornamental trees by the new residents.”