The value of sustainable urban space design and management in real estate: South Africa Durban’s uMhlanga Ridge.

Abstract

Urbanisation continues to be experienced in South Africa and the United Nations forecasts that over 70 % of the country’s inhabitants will reside in urban regions by 2030. It is vital that urban space design and management is reviewed in order to preserve and enhance property values in urban areas. Cities around the country have urban development framework plans but because of the challenges of ethnic separation amongst others the cities are not able to manage the urban spaces which leads to property and urban space decay. This research study was about the significance importance of sustainable urban space design and management to preserve natural resources, enhance property values and improve quality of life. A qualitative research approach using interview questionnaires to gather data from a sample of nine experienced and relevant stakeholders was applied. The results were then analysed using a qualitative thematic analysis. From the three research questions, six sub-categories, and six major themes were developed. Through the analysis, it was discovered that all participants believed that there is value in sustainable urban space design and management. Another finding was that all participants believed in the importance of the establishment of their own homeowners’ association. The third major theme that followed was observing that the cities are currently considering urban space design and management urgently; however, the main barrier experienced was dealing with resource allotment issues. In terms of how the barriers can be addressed, it was discovered that there is a need to keep a close partnership between the government and private institutions to successfully maximize the resources of the area/s. Finally, the participants believed that retaining the current property taxation is not unfair to owners as both parties are benefitting from the growth under the practice of urban space management. This study is then valuable to the property industry and should enlighten investors and government about the importance of urban space design and management. Lastly, the report enlightens a larger audience on the importance of inclusive rather than exclusive approach to spatial design and management for Umhlanga Ridge.