The Insider - Major building boom in August

The Insider
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The Insider - October 2007

Major building boom in August

There was a major building boom in Bulawayo in August after a two-month lull with the city council approving plans valued at $6.4 billion.

This was the highest figure for plans approved this year, the previous peak being $3.3 billion approved in March.

Cowdray Park continued to dominate the boom with a total of 163 plans being approved in the suburb which is the hub of Operation Hlalani Kuhle.

Cowdray Park has, however, been dogged by the problem of water reticulation as a number of houses have been completed but they cannot be occupied because they do not have toilets.

The council insists that houses can only be occupied when they have proper sanitary facilities and have been issued certificates of occupation.

A number of organisations have come up with proposals for toilets including pit latrines that can be filled up once proper toilets are constructed.

Ward 4 which includes the posh suburbs of Selbourne Park and Burnside had the highest figure in monetary terms though it only had 13 building plans approved. The plans were worth $1.7 billion with one residence in Selbourne Park contributing nearly a quarter at $430 million.

The plans approved also included four commercial plans valued at $510 million, one industrial plan worth $240 million and two government plans valued at $209 million.

Plans valued at $16 billion were approved in the first eight months of the year.

Posted- 2 October 2007

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