Story by Nick Whitely

Almost unnoticed, a new shopping centre on the corner of Gullsway and Main Road, Gonubie, is under construction and is expected to open for business in November this year.

While media attention was focused on the rivalry between Investec’s huge proposed East Coast Mall nearer the highway and another mega-development at Hemingways, the much smaller centre in Gullsway snuck in and beat them both out of the starting blocks after signing up tow national anchor tenants, Spar and Fruit and Veg City. Rumours that a Wimpy might also open there have not been confirmed.

This 11 000 square metre mall is a fifth of the size of the much bigger proposal up the road. The developer, Paul King from Wellington in the Western Cape is a hard man to get hold of for comment.

Craig Sam, Head of Development Planning in Buffalo City, says the Hemingways Mall developer has been given special consent by Council to proceed with its regional shopping centre, subject to conditions. An application to develop an additional piece of land north of the access road to the casino was also approved.

Sam says an objection by Investec, developers of the East Coast Mall project, against the Hemingways development was rejected by Council on the grounds that it would interfere with the right to trade freely.

Meanwhile, final approval for the East Coast Mall has been put on hold pending an investigation into objections about the capacity of Gonubie to carry the required infrastructure. Sam says the Engineering Directorate has been asked to assist.

Another shopping mall proposal in Beacon Bay has fallen by the wayside and the developer has now applied to use the property for business purpose, although it’s not yet clear exactly what business they have in mind. Sod turning for Hemingways took place last week.

With so much money at stake for the competing developers, it seems that the race to develop a new regional shopping centre could still have a few twists before the dust finally settles and a winner emerges.