Thorntree View Human Settlement

Thorntree View sets new boundaries for human settlements

The design of the Thorntree View Integrated Development, a massive and ambitious human settlement between Tshwane's Rosslyn and Soshanguve communities, provides a balance between the traditional concept of providing shelter and the need for economic growth and social and ecological development in the community.

The development, situated in the north of the City of Tshwane, is a joint public-private Safdev SSDC initiative. Infrastructure development firm Bigen Africa provides the civil and electrical engineering consulting services.

“Thorntree View is an embodiment of the Breaking New Ground principles at work. Its design stimulates wealth creation, poverty alleviation and equity by seamlessly blending 29 000 subsidised, institutional and bonded housing units with public open spaces, business and commercial stands, schools, sports fields and parks,” says Dr Snowy Khoza, Bigen Africa CEO.

Already, 14 000 residential units have been serviced, totalling a construction value of R240 million. The development also caters for 24 primary schools, 12 secondary schools, 35 business stands, 176 hectares of public open spaces and parks and 133 institutional sites which will be utilised as clinics, churches, crèches and community facilities. 

Fastest developing area

The Thorntree View concept and its application made the development so popular that it is now the fastest developing area in the City of Tswane.

“Bigen Africa managed to combine best practices for human settlements with new initiatives developed specifically for Thorntree View. We had to densify and realign the already approved township layout in terms of Breaking New Ground principles, but without compromising the already issued development rights and ensuring that the flamboyance of the development was kept intact. This involved, amongst others, re-designing the sewer infrastructure to accommodate the previously installed the mid-block sewers.” says Dr Khoza.

In line with Bigen Africa business practice, the project was used to create employment opportunities, provide on-the-job training, support local suppliers and SMMEs and create a vibrant economic activity for women selling food to contractors. For example, approximately 2 000 people have already been employed for a total budgeted remuneration of R60 million.

Social cohesion

“Bigen Africa is proud to be associated with this project. The development framework designed by the urban designer, town planner and our engineering teams promotes social cohesion, crime reduction and moral regeneration of the entire node. Public spaces have been designed to accommodate street vendors and open-air markets to service the consumers with low purchasing power,” says Dr Khoza. 

Members of the community has access to all municipal services, including telecommunication, electricity, potable water, waterborne sanitation, roads and storm water infrastructure – as well as to educational, health, environmental, social, commercial and institutional infrastructure. Transport infrastructure caters for pedestrians, cyclists, cars, taxis, buses and trains. 

The educational facilities are designed to pool resources, ensure long-term sustainability and accommodate various forms of learning. The facilities will be used for normal school practice during the day and double as adult education centres at night. Facilities such as libraries and sports fields will be shared between schools.

Appropriate delivery mechanisms were put in place as part of the design process to ensure the long-term sustainability of the development. With the assistance of the professional team, community forums have also been established to ensure that the development fulfils its maximum growth potential, socially, economically, culturally and environmentally. 

“The popularity of the development and the need to reduce the housing backlog in the area resulted in us providing innovative solutions to speed up delivery. This included appointing a multidisciplinary team of contractors for coordination and programming of concurrent construction activities. All designs were executed in terms of our ISO model, which substantially reduced the development and construction risks,” says Dr Khoza. 

The stakeholders in the project are:

• City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality
• Department of Human Settlements and Department of Education
• Client : Safdev SSDC
• Urban designer : GWA Studio
• Town planner : Van Zyl & Benade
• Civil and electrical engineers : Bigen Africa