Construction of the R1,5-billion Wedgewood Village Golf and Country Estate in Greenbushes will start next month with about 70% of the plots sold.

After looking at all the infrastructure needs of the project, currently deemed the largest after Coega, the municipality in October last year gave its approval for the project to continue, against the recommendation of municipal officials concerned about the "high densities" of the development.

The development brings on stream a R400-million retirement village consisting of 307 freehold homes, and 47 sectional title units adjacent to a shopping centre. There will be R780-million worth of developments around the golf course.

The 370ha estate will be built on the existing golf course, then spelt Wedgwood, which was established by Port Elizabeth's Jewish community in 1946.

Simon Bezuidenhout of Wedgewood Village said on Sunday the retirement village would be launched at the beginning of next month. "If all goes according to plan, we are turning the sod in February. The project, which will be built in three phases of six months each, will be completed in 18 months. By August this year the first phase will be complete and those with plots can start building their homes."

He said a study by his company had revealed a huge demand for retirement homes, not only in Nelson Mandela Bay but countrywide. "We are confident the retirement village will be supported."

The 18-hole golf course would be developed by Pinnacle Point Resorts, a Cape Town group specialising in golf estate developments.

The developers said people buying the plots were a mixture of locals and outsiders, many of them ex- Port Elizabethans now living in Johannesburg who wanted to come back or South Africans living in England.

A joint venture with retirement market developers Devmark Property Group would build the village with about 1,000 jobs to be created during construction alone.

Bezuidenhout said there would be a retail village with boutique shops and cafes, tennis courts, swimming pool, and a bowling green. The golf course would be available to all residents.

The Wedgwood course previously hosted the General Motors Open, an international classic golf tournament that attracted greats like Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Seve Ballesteros, Harold Henning and Hugh Baiocchi.

Eastern Province Herald
 
 

Publisher: I-Net Bridge
Source: I-Net Bridge