Joburg wins case to stop student housing

The City of Johannesburg has won a case against developer Century Property, stopping construction of a student housing block in Auckland Park.

The City of Johannesburg has won a case against developer Century Property, stopping construction of a student housing block in Auckland Park.

Century was building a 200unit student housing complex on Streatley Avenue, near Campus Square shopping mall, despite pressure from residents.

The developer and the city have been in court several times, with Century seeking to prove that its building plans had been approved by the city’s townplanning division. The city has argued that the plans had never been accepted by its building control officer.

The officer was suspended after Century had issued the plans, and an acting officer was appointed while he undergoes a disciplinary hearing.

The high court ruled on Friday that Century was effectively building illegally, citing as invalid the provisional section 7(6) of the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act that it had been relying on.

Century has 21 days to appeal and if it fails, the city can pursue a section 21 order for the demolition of the development.

The city’s department of development planning has welcomed the judgment. Century CEO Mark Corbett said he would comment when the judgment was published this week.

He has argued that Century had met the requirements necessary to develop the student housing development, which is near a Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit System route.

“It would bring much needed high quality student housing and help to densify the suburb.

Residents have argued that the development will bring degradation to the suburb, one of the oldest in Johannesburg, established in 1888, and that it will lead to a fall in house prices.