State-of-the-art warehousing near Durban port on tract

August this year will see
the launch of a new stateof-
the art warehousing
facility on the site of the
130 000sqm Dunlop manufacturing
plant in Sydney Road, geared to take
advantage of logistics and import and
export activities linked to the port.
JT Ross development director,
Grant Smith, said the tyre
manufacturing plant had been
officially decommissioned and
demolition of defunct infrastructure
was well on its way. Completion is
scheduled for the third quarter.
Last August the company took
ownership of the property which had
changed hands just twice before in its
80-year life span. It was first owned
by the Dunlop group and then by the
India-based Apollo tyre production
company.
Smith said the development group’s
investment in the property was based
on the proximity to the harbour. Its
position, he said, had resulted in the
land retaining its value despite its
ageing infrastructure.
Tony Blaunfeldt, who heads up the
Umbilo Business Forum, said the
development would assist in arresting
urban decay in the industrial district.
Economic and urban development
expert Glen Robbins called on
Transnet and the city to take
responsibility for much-needed
upgrades in both the port and its
surrounds.
“There is always demand for
well-managed urban regeneration.
There is a vast range of businesses
in Umbilo that could benefit
from this development. It also
makes sense to regenerate existing
urban areas – particularly if
you compare the high cost of
developing far from the city. This
whole investment creates a great
opportunity for the city to tackle
the issue of bad buildings in that
area as well,” he said.
CAPTION
Warehousing facility to open at 265 Sydney Road in August.