‘The Gates at Hilton’, a new residential estate on the borders of Hilton College, will enable those who live there to become part of the Hilton College community if they so wish. Purchasers at this new development will become members of the Fleur de Lys Club (Fleur de Lys is the symbol of Hilton College) and will be entitled to use many of the amenities of the school. Alex Beadle, co-franchisee for the Rawson Property Group’s Hilton franchise, along with Andrew Morphew, says that the advantages of this system are so great that it is “almost difficult to quantify them”.
“Residents and their children at ‘The Gates at Hilton’ will be able to use the college’s gymnasium, play squash on their courts, hit a ball on the AstroTurf or use the cricket nets. They will also be able to take walks in the pristine Umgeni Valley among herds of impala, wildebeest and giraffe. The amenities provided by ‘The Gates at Hilton’ cannot be rivalled by any other estate in South Africa.”
Beadle, says that 44,3 hectares of prime KwaZulu-Natal midlands countryside, have been set aside for the new development.
‘The Gates at Hilton’ will have 81 stands in all, with an average size of 2000 m2. The plots will sell in a price range of R940,000 to R1,111,500. All homes built within the development will have to conform to a strict set of architectural guidelines which are based on the widely admired Cape Dutch vernacular style which has, for so many years, defined Hilton College’s landscape.
“The estate, however, will have a more contemporary approach with an earthy colour palate blending the houses into the landscape with a commitment to build in an environmentally friendly manner, conserving energy where possible,” said Beadle.
Purchasers, he added, can either commission the presiding architects, FGG Architects, or make use of an architect of their choice that is approved by the developer.
“The scope for development allows purchasers to achieve their dream homes while remaining within the architectural guidelines. Site specific restrictions and coverage allowances should be reviewed before purchasing.”
Work by Action Asphalt on the first multi million rand contract for the roads and drainage has already begun and civil installation work will be continuous from now on until the end of the project.
Beadle says that about 550 hectares of Hilton College’s pristine estate is now a declared nature reserve and home to a number of antelope, bird species and even a leopard. Residents of the new development will have access to this entire area and they will also be able to use many of the college’s sports facilities, such as tennis courts, athletics track and swimming baths.
“In the last few years,” says Beadle, “we have seen a huge upturn in demand for property in the Hilton area. This is driven by a remarkable influx of new commercial and industrial enterprises to the area, as well as by many Pietermaritzburg residents wanting to move out of the city. It is also driven by the Hilton College’s parents and Old Boys and by the district’s growing popularity among retirees.
“Our franchise is in fact involved with a number of local area developments, all of which are selling well.”
To date, already 19 sites in ‘The Gates at Hilton’ have been sold and the developers expect full sell-out of the first phase to be achieved within a few months of the completion of the infrastructure.
