The City of Cape Town is calling on comment to refine the community-driven draft Local Spatial Development Framework (LSDF) for the Big Bay area, inclusive of West Beach and Erf 1117, which is owned by the National Department of Public Works.
An LSDF determines the development vision for an area on a local level, and once approved by the City’s Council, the LSDF is used for guidance on making decisions about development applications and land use.
The Big Bay area is located between the R27 route to the east and the Table View coastline to the west, bordered to the north by the Blaauwberg Nature Reserve, and to the south by Marine Circle and Blaauwberg Road. It is well served by access routes and the MyCiTi bus service.
According to City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews, the draft LSDF for Big Bay and surrounding areas was an initiative driven by the local community.
In 2022, Subcouncil 1 supported the community-driven planning initiative to develop a draft LSDF for Big Bay and surround areas with the Blaauwberg Spatial Association initiating and steering the process while appointing – and paying for – professional consultants to draft the LSDF. The City says the draft was submitted to its Urban Planning and Design Department in December 2024.
In partnership with community representatives, the document has been substantially revised for the public participation process which is now underway.
The considerations in the draft LSDF highlight the opportunities for Big Bay and surrounding areas, as well as challenges which include a lack of schools and public health facilities; limited local employment opportunities within walking distance; the heavy reliance on road-based transport leading to congestion and pollution; low dwelling units and population densities; the uncertainty around the future of the government-owned Erf 1117 and the threat of land invasions; the vulnerability of services infrastructure (particularly electricity and sanitation); and the threat of climate change and sea levels rising.
As for urban development, the LSDF proposes:
- 10 sub-precincts for the area: Northern Corridor; Big Bay Beachfront; Big Bay Dunes; Bloubergstrand Village; Blaauwberg Dunes; Blaauwberg Beachfront; West Beach; Sunningdale Open Space Corridor; Erf 1117; and a proposed Blouberg Nature Reserve Gateway where proposals in terms of spatial planning, development, density, transport etc. are aligned with each precinct’s unique qualities and location.
- The creation of three ‘heart’ nodes at the Blaauwbergstrand Village; West Beach, and the intersection of Big Bay Boulevard and Cormorant Road to contribute to placemaking and identity.
- Maintaining or encouraging development nodes with a mix of land uses and densification; with large nodes along the R27 corridor where the MyCiTi bus service operates; medium nodes along Otto du Plessis Drive; and smaller nodes along connecting routes to stimulate economic activity and small-scale opportunities.
- Higher densities along public transport routes and areas adjacent to economic opportunities; and low densities in environmental sensitive areas.
- Higher densities along the coast (apart from Blaauwbergstrand Village) so that more properties can benefit from the views; lower densities within the centre of the project area, and higher densities and mixed land uses towards the R27 where there are higher levels of economic activity.
- To pursue incremental densification through second or third dwellings where these land uses exist as of right in terms of the City’s zoning scheme.
- All new developments will have to comply with the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Urgent Protection Zone which sets mobility conditions in case of an urgent evacuation.
- Beachfront parking and park-and-ride strategy; a tour bus route; and the creation of a continuous coastal walkway from south of Marine Circle to Big Bay.
With regards to Erf 1117, the draft LSDF proposes some considerations for the large parcel of land, should development be pursued. The City stresses that there is no existing development proposal or application for Erf 1117 currently.
Erf 1117 is subject to environmental authorisation and environmental studies to consider conservation areas and management principles in development plans and mitigation measures to protect natural areas. The City says the biodiversity on the site does not prevent development, but the designation seeks to influence how development can take place in a manner that best balances conservation and urban development goals. Any future development of this site will have to comply with the Koeberg Urgent Protective Zone that sets conditions for infrastructure (road) capacity in the event of an emergency evacuation and development in this zone must be phased in accordance with additional road capacity to facilitate emergency evacuations.
The City of Cape Town is hosting an open day on Saturday, 1st of November 2025 from 10:00 to 14:00 at the Bloubergstrand Hall with its online engagement session on Thursday, the 13th of November 2025 between 18:00 to 20:00.
The closing date for comments is Friday, the 12th of December 2025.
