Western Cape inclusionary housing policy framework open for comment

A groundbreaking new Inclusionary Housing Policy Framework developed by the Western Cape Government will be published for public comment today. The draft Policy Framework will help municipalities in the Western Cape to facilitate the inclusion of more affordable housing units in developments in their municipal areas. This will be done in partnership with the private sector – creating more opportunities for people to live in better locations.

Anton Bredell, the Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape, says the provincial government is working hard to tackle the challenge of housing and spatial inequality.

“We want more affordable and inclusionary housing in well-located areas within our municipalities. Lower income households and lower to middle income households - including many of our essential workers - need easier access to economic opportunities and social amenities in our towns and cities. This is the foundation upon which the province has based its innovative new policy.”

Bredell says the challenges of spatial inequality and housing is not unique to the Western Cape.

“In the Western Cape we are working day and night to fix that. Every independent report shows that the level and quality of basic services provided to people in the Western Cape are a world apart from every other area in the country but it is not good enough to provide good free basic services to our people. We also want to drive real change in their lives. The department believes this policy will be a real gamechanger in this regard.”

The Western Cape Inclusionary Housing Policy Framework will sets out to answer the following questions:

• What is inclusionary housing?
• Why should it be used as a mechanism for spatial transformation?
• On what basis can inclusionary housing be applied in the Western Cape?
• How can inclusionary housing be introduced in municipalities – what should be done first?
• Who should do what?
• What are the policy considerations?

There is no doubt that the introduction of inclusionary housing is a complex and technical task, involving several role-players and stakeholders with consequences which are difficult to predict. There are currently no tried and tested models of inclusionary housing on the ground in South Africa to learn from.

“For us the need to transform our cities and towns is non-negotiable. The Western Cape Government is determined to be bold, whilst recognising the risks and uncertainties. The initial Policy Framework is an important first step and will most certainly evolve and be improved over time. We will look to municipalities, developers, landowners, civil society and organisations to contribute towards its improvement as we build a body of evidence,” says Bredell.

The policy framework is now open for public participation and the department welcomes and encourages views on how the draft policy could be improved.

The Draft Western Cape Inclusionary Housing Policy Framework is available on the website: www.westerncape.gov.za/eadp.

For enquiries, please contact Ms Catherine Stone on e-mail: Catherine.Stone@westerncape.gov.za or by telephone at: 021 483 4796.

Any person or organisation wishing to comment on the policy framework should submit their comments in writing before or on 13 July 2021 by post to: The Head of Department, Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Directorate: Spatial Planning, Private Bag X9086, Cape Town 8000; by hand to: Ms Catherine Stone, Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Directorate: Spatial Planning, 4th Floor, Property Centre, 1 Dorp Street, Cape Town; or by e-mail to: Michael.Hathorn@westerncape.gov.za.

Virtual workshops will be held on 31 May 2021. Should you wish to participate in the workshop, kindly forward your name to Michael.Hathorn@westerncape.gov.za.

ENDS.

Western Cape Inclusionary Housing Policy Framework