Cape Town’s long-vacant Ritz Hotel could be one step closer to a new chapter, but this time the public gets a say.
The City of Cape Town has opened a planning application for the redevelopment of the iconic Sea Point property to public comment, giving residents, businesses and other interested parties until Monday, November 2, to submit their representations.
The application, submitted by Nigel Burls & Associates on behalf of property owner OKU Cape Town (Pty) Ltd, seeks planning approval to refurbish the existing 75m-high hotel tower and transform the site into a hotel and mixed-use development.
According to the application, the proposals are intended to allow the property to once again operate as a “top-tier hotel and mixed-use offering” after years of vacancy and deterioration.
What’s planned for the Ritz
The Ritz Hotel first opened in 1972 and became a distinctive part of the Sea Point skyline, with its 25-storey tower and famous revolving restaurant.
The hotel closed in 2015 for repairs and refurbishment and reopened in 2017, but shut again in 2018 amid operational and legal difficulties. The vacant building was subsequently illegally occupied during the Covid-19 pandemic and later condemned for human habitation.
Following legal proceedings, the building was vacated. The property was purchased in 2025 by OKU Cape Town (Pty) Ltd, owned by international hotel group OKU Hotels.
IOL recently reported that plans lodged with the City of Cape Town could see the long-shuttered landmark transformed into a revived hotel with 44 residential apartments, restaurants and wellness facilities, alongside upgrades to the existing property.
According to the application, the redevelopment would bring a 24-hour hotel presence to a property that is currently largely vacant and in disrepair. The applicant argues that this would improve security and passive surveillance along surrounding public streets, while landscaping would improve the appearance of the site.
On heritage, the application states that the existing buildings are less than 60 years old and that the property does not fall within an existing or proposed Heritage Protection Overlay Area.
The application also states that the redevelopment would have no impact on the biophysical environment, as the site is already entirely built up or covered by hard surfaces. It acknowledges that some existing trees would be removed, while stating that the majority would be retained.
The full application and details on how to submit comments can be viewed on the City of Cape Town’s website.
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