The Bo-Kaap has officially been included in as a heritage protection overlay zone which will protect the area from all future developments.
Cape Town, South Africa – A report was finalised to declare the Bo-Kaap as a heritage site. This was done to protect the area from the expanding CBD developments taking place. The report was reviewed, and we have great news, the Bo-Kaap is now protected as a heritage protection overlay zone.
The Bo-Kaap is an area in the city of Cape Town formerly known as the Malay Quarter. Bo-Kaap is traditionally a multicultural area, rich in history and situated on the slopes of Signal Hill. The area is known for its romantic cobblestoned streets and colourful houses
The Bo-Kaap is vibrant with history and was voted as the fourth on the most colourful cities list in 2016. It was also one of the reasons South Africa was named the 5th most Instagrammable country in the world in 2019.
Richard Walton from the City’s Spatial Planning and Environment Department spoke of the report saying that large office blocks and residential developments have a negative effect on the overall feel of the area. He confirmed it had a negative impact on the visitors who walked around the area.
Now that the area is in a heritage protection overlay zone, residents are urged to retain and rehabilitate the existing residential buildings. The protection also mandates that new developments and alterations to existing buildings do not alter the historic urban landscape.
Development projects that were approved before the heritage protection overlay zone will go ahead as planned.
“There are developments that have been approved already and there are developments that are in process. You cannot make law retrospectively. You can only make law as from the date you proclaimed forward.” – Marian Nieuwoudt, Mayco member, Spatial Planning and Environment
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