East London’s newly established development agency is to help drive development in the city, particularly along the city’s coastline which extends from Leaches Bay and Gonubie.

The agency is headed by the city’s director of social services Peter King, who has been seconded to the agency to help the agency through its initial processes.

Phase one of the agency’s mandate is to develop the area between the Eastern Beach and Nahoon where there are large tracts of undeveloped land which are ecologically and historically sensitive. Fossilised footprints have been found in this area.

King has also given the assurance that the process of appointing consultants and the communication of their findings will be conducted in total transparency and will include consultation with the people of the city, particularly those who live in the affected areas.

The agency has been funded by the Industrial Development Corporation which has pioneered numerous other similar municipal initiatives in South Africa.

The establishment of development agencies to promote investment and development has been used successfully abroad, particularly in high-density areas such as France’s St Tropez and Spain’s Cost Brava.