Development between Durban North and Umhlanga has been growing exponentially for some years. This caused a shortage of land in established commercial and industrial sectors of the region, but never before has the industry mushroomed as at present. “Tongaat Hulett, in conjunction with eThekwini Municipality, has launched a multibillion-rand project named Cornubia which, with an area of 1 200 ha, aims to become the largest sustainable, integrated human settlement initiative in KZN,” says Werner Willers, Commercial Broker for the Rawson Commercial Durban South franchise. Cornubia, planned as a mixed-use development due for completion in 2030, already offers affordable residential, commercial and industrial property, together with infrastructure such as schools, medical services, retail outlets, etc. Thousands of permanent jobs will be generated as national and international corporate and industrial companies flock to the area.
Location
Cornubia is situated between the N2 freeway and the M41, north of the recently completed Umhlanga–Mount Edgecombe interchange which has greatly improved traffic flow. Gateway shopping centre is located across the N2, Mount Edgecombe lies to the southwest, and Umhlanga Ridge is to the east. Durban’s Container Terminal is just 35 kilometres to the south, while Richards Bay is 154 kilometres to the north. King Shaka International Airport at La Mercy is 19 kilometres north. “Cornubia has been designed as a high-density, transport-orientated project in conjunction with the eThekwini Municipality’s GO!Durban integrated rapid transport network,” remarks Willers.
Commercial and industrial property
Much of the land has been sold to investment companies intending to develop it for the rental market. Premium as well as A-grade offices are available, while several business and industrial parks have been established. These include Cornubia and Ushukela Industrial Park, Boulevard and Sigma Business Parks, and a mega logistics and retail park which is still under construction. These and future developments will cater for a wide range of businesses from light industrial, warehousing, logistics and assembly to plans for oil, gas and renewable energy industries. The existing business parks offer 24-hour security, various sized premises, adequate parking and easy access to main thoroughfares for efficient transport of raw materials and manufactured goods in and out of the area. “Many blue-chip and international companies have been attracted to Cornubia, and many start-up businesses have also recognised its potential,” says Willers. Companies represented in the business parks are Bidvest Food Services, Sylko, Universal Group, Cargo Compass, ID Logistics, MMI Holdings, Digistics and the RCL Foods head office, among others.
The close proximity to Durban, Umhlanga and the North Coast tourist attractions creates a need for hotels and holiday accommodation, although there are many hotels and holiday apartments in Umhlanga Ridge, Umhlanga and adjacent suburbs. Cornubia includes a large residential component catering for all levels of income, allowing the workforce to reside close to their place of employment, thus reducing transport costs. The large Cornubia Mall provides the town’s main retail hub.
Monthly rentals for A-grade office space cost around R135 per square metre, while Prime grade will cost around R200. Light industrial property rentals range between R80 and R90 per square metre per month, while medium to heavy industrial properties generally range between R70 and R80 per square metre per month, depending on the size of the premises.
Amenities
Open-plan Cornubia Mall boasts tenants such as Pick n Pay, Checkers, Woolworths, Edgars, Truworths and Mr Price, along with eating houses, fast food outlets, Nu Metro cinemas, Bounce, as well as a Virgin Active gym. Where once there were cane fields, housing estates and apartment buildings now cater for all budgets to house the influx of new residents to the town. “With the new bridge over the N2 linking Cornubia Boulevard and Umhlanga Ridge Boulevard, as well as the upgrade to the N2–M41 intersection, movement between Cornubia, Umhlanga and places further afield has been vastly improved,” says Willers. Netcare Umhlanga Hospital and Life Mount Edgecombe Hospital are less than five kilometres away, while eThekwini Hospital is just 16 kilometres distant. Two new schools are in the pipeline, one from ADvTECH and the other from Curro, both providing excellent education from grades 1–12. Space has been allocated for a tertiary institution which will be developed a little later. Tongaat Hulett, in keeping with their ethos, will ensure a certain amount of the land is left natural or landscaped with indigenous plants to reduce the impact of the project on local flora and fauna. Besides entertainment at Cornubia Mall, Umhlanga has myriad amusements for locals and holidaymakers alike, including golden beaches with safe swimming areas. Durban, with its many diversions, is close by, as are the North Coast game reserves.
In conclusion
Cornubia provides ample space for expansion, easy access to markets and distribution points, excellent infrastructure, affordable housing as well as upgraded public transport. It has been suggested that this could soon become Durban’s biggest commercial and industrial hub. “If you are looking to relocate your business or start a new one, take a careful look at what Cornubia has to offer; you may be pleasantly surprised,” Willers advises.
Rawson Commercial has offices countrywide and will gladly assist you in finding the right property for your purpose. If you're interested in commercial opportunities in Cornubia or in the Durban area, contact Werner Willers on 0722815649 or Rawson Durban South Commercial on 031 201 0791
