Major plans for Cape Town station

Rezoning plan could see Cape Town rail station get R1-billion facelift.

A major development plan could see the construction of a 120-room hotel with an office and retail complex in the forecourt of Cape Town station.

The city committee in charge of urban development has approved the rezoning of 35,000 sqm of the forecourt area on the western portion of the site, adjacent to Adderley Street, from a transport zone to general business zone.

The R1-billion project is currently pending approval from Cape Town's mayoral committee and, if the rezoning application is successful, developers would have the green light to submit plans for a 3,000-sqm three-storey hotel, with over 27,000 sqm of office space and 17,000 sqm of retail area.

City officials agree the project would generate economic development and business opportunities in the centre, however the city's main concern is the potential increase of traffic to an area with limited vehicular access.

The proposed development follows the upgrades of the station for the 2010 World Cup, and the recent redevelopment of the Parade forecourt.