Traffic congestion, parking pressures, and the future impact of the proposed Granger Bay expansion dominated discussions at the Mouille Point Ratepayers’ Association Annual General Meeting on Thursday, May 14.
Speaking to residents, Graham Wood, the newly appointed CEO of the V&A Waterfront, addressed concerns surrounding the large-scale development planned for the Granger Bay precinct.
Residents questioned how the precinct plans to manage increased traffic volumes in what is already one of Cape Town’s busiest areas.
One resident asked what preliminary studies had been conducted around traffic, parking, and access to the development, adding that the City’s current solution often appears to be “slapping up robots at every intersection”.
In response, Wood said the broader issue of Cape Town traffic extends beyond the V&A precinct itself.
“Cape Town’s traffic is not for us to solve,” he said, adding that long-term solutions would require improvements in public transport and a return to rail-based commuting.
Wood explained that the Granger Bay project is being designed primarily as a residential-led development, partly to reduce traffic pressure.
“The reason why we are doing this as a residential-led development is precisely because of that,” he said. “If people are living, working, and playing in the precinct, they’re in the precinct.”
The expansion is expected to accommodate around 6 000 households over time.
Wood said the precinct’s design would aim to move vehicles underground into basement parking areas while increasing pedestrian-friendly public spaces throughout the development.
“Is it going to solve the traffic problem? No. But is it a response to what is already a problem? Yes, it’s a response,” he said.
He added that a formal Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) would still need to be conducted after the first 200,000 square metres of development are completed. Future phases of the project would depend on approval from the City of Cape Town following that assessment.
Some residents raise concerns around preserving Cape Town’s maritime heritage.
Resident Lee Botti suggested the City should consider developing a large maritime museum, saying Cape Town’s history is closely tied to the sea.
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