Live in a green world of joy

A creek runs through it – Acorn Creek in Helderberg offers great opportunities

A NEW development is under way in one of the largest and most active development nodes in the Western Cape – in the rural surrounds of the Helderberg basin, about 5km from Somerset West, between the N2 and the R102.

“Acorn Creek offers a pocket of secure and energy-efficient living,” says Riaan Roos, chief executive of MSP Developments, developer of Acorn Creek.

“There is a lot of activity on site including the upgrade of the river corridor that runs the entire length of the development.”

Roos says Acorn Creek is a true village, with design layout and architecture by the awardwinning Dennis Moss Partnership team. The spatial arrangements have been carefully considered, with use of cobblestones and archways through buildings that provide clear lines of sight to customdesigned focal points, parks and water features.

Building of the first house in phase one is set to start in February, with completion of the first homes expected in October. There will be eight phases in all, with phases one to six comprising 380 homes, and phases seven and eight consisting of 180 village flats.

“Phase one has just been launched with 37 homes, of which seven have already been sold. Phase one has 17 different house styles to choose from, half of which have been customised for their specific plots. The average house size is 172m all have three bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms, single garages with additional pergolacovered carports and patios. The architecture is contemporary Cape vernacular, with walls kept low to maintain the village feel,” says Roos.

Grohe taps, granite kitchen tops, a gas hob with electric oven and cooker hood and built-in braais are standard. Some home designs include a fireplace, and buyers have a choice of gas or wood-burning options. A wide selection of carpets and tiles is available.

Roos says solar geyser systems and panels are standard on every roof, with hybrid power back-up solar systems that will allow residents to live up to 95 percent off-grid. Acorn Creek also offers fibre optic internet.

All 480 units in the complex will feature the Power Up energy system that produces up to three times the daily power output of other deep cycle systems and the Crystal battery banks are known to last up to five times longer, according to Miles Oates, chief executive officer of the Build Africa Corporation, which distributes Power Up supply units in 19 African countries.

“The Power Up units in each apartment will reduce electricity bills by up to 75 percent and load-shedding will be a distant memory,” says Oates.

“This kind of mass imple- mentation of green, renewable energy is very new in the residential market locally. The control system includes an inverter, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), a solar tracker and a specialised charge controller that’s the size of an average laptop, along with the battery banks which are designed like an Apple iPhone. All this equipment is safe enough to be installed in a garage, a lounge, a kitchen or under a desk in an office.”

In addition to the creek, orchards and water features at Acorn Creek there are numerous public open spaces, as well as ample cycling and walking tracks with play areas for kids.

Security features include access control with thermal imaging cameras, biometric identification, security guards and Fang perimeter fencing.

Roos says that prices start from R2 049 900 and buyers need only pay their bond costs.

“This development is supported by all four major banks and up to 100 percent bonds are available for approved buyers.

“A refundable R25 000 de- posit secures a home.

“Acorn Creek is a turnkey product, so no interim interest is payable. This makes it ideal for young professionals, couples, small families and older people wanting to scale down into retirement. Prospective buyers can see a model of the village, as well as mini interior layouts at the site office.

The marketing agency is Harcourts Platinum Somerset West.

Call 076 072 5494, see www. acorncreek. co. za or email sales@acorncreek.co.za.

An artist’s impressions of phase one of Acorn Creek, under construction between the N2 and R102 near Somerset West, where homes are priced from R2 049 900.