Name of the Project

Salt River Market affordable housing project.

Location

The historic Salt River Market site in Salt River, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa.

Project Owner/s

Western Cape social and affordable housing provider Communicare, in partnership with the City of Cape Town.

Communicare is the project developer, while the city has contributed the municipal land required for the development.

Project Description

The project is intended to increase the supply of affordable housing close to public transport, employment and economic opportunities while supporting greater spatial and socioeconomic integration in central Cape Town.

The project includes the redevelopment of the Salt River Market site into a high-density, mixed-use and -income residential precinct comprising 970 affordable rental apartments. The development will include seven storeys of 300 regulated social housing apartments and nine storeys of 670 affordable market rental apartments.

The proposed accommodation will include one- and two-bedroom apartments.

The ground floor will accommodate retail space, a public piazza, a daycare facility and a sportsfield. Permanent retail space will be provided for the four longstanding fresh-produce traders operating at the market.

As part of the development, the historic Salt River Hall will be restored and preserved.

Potential Job Creation

Not stated.

Capital Expenditure

Communicare plans to contribute R40-million of its own funding and expects to receive a one-off subsidy of about R127-million from the Social Housing Regulatory Authority for the construction of the 300 social housing apartments.The City of Cape Town has contributed the site at a 90% discount, representing an effective land subsidy of about R95-million.The 670 affordable market rental apartments will be developed without direct State housing subsidies.

Planned Start/End Date

Construction is planned to start in October 2026, with completion targeted for August 2028.

Latest Developments

The City of Cape Town officially handed over the Salt River Market site to Communicare on June 8, 2026, allowing for the development to proceed towards construction.

The handover followed a multiyear social facilitation process to relocate informal households occupying the property and resolve arrangements for the commercial traders operating from the site.

Geotechnical investigations are expected to be undertaken before the building plan process is completed.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants

Not disclosed.

Contact Details for Project Information

Communicare, tel +27 21 421 6008 or

email info@communicare.org.za.