uct heritage park management framework - University of Cape Town

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call documents would be advertised to the private sector for further development and operation
of the three identified nodes being The Zoo site, Mount Pleasant and Rhodes Memorial.
2.3.12 UCT, Rondebosch/Observatory Campus: Development Framework Plan (DFP), Physical
Planning Unit, Revised March 2010
The DFP is intended to guide the nature and form of all proposed physical development once
approved by the University Council. It was the culmination of planning processes initiated with
the appointment of consultants (Dewar, Louw and Southworth 2005 – refer to section 2.3.14) to
prepare “A long term spatial development framework and Urban Design Concept for the
University of Cape Town”, commonly known as the “Guide Plan.” The Guide Plan together with an
Access Management Plan (2005), a number of Heritage Assessments and a Landscape Framework
Plan (Oberholzer 2006) and substantial internal discussion informed the DFP.
The DFP was also informed by metro-wide planning and policy, local area planning as well as
planning work associated to adjacent land holdings such as the Groote Schuur Estate (GSE). The
GSE-Conservation and Development Framework is particularly relevant. The Guide Plan and this
Framework are consistent in their approach to the future of the forest and parking. The Forest is
seen as an important evergreen backdrop to the classical set piece (Jamieson Hall, stairs and
residences). Neither plan sees the Park having a parking role for students.
The DFP responds to a number of institutional informants, the most important being the fact that 25%
of students live in university residences and this is expected to increase. The university is planning
to be able to accommodate an additional 25% who are presently drawn from outside Cape Town.
However it should be noted that UCT does not propose any new development on upper campus.
Future development will be on the middle or lower campus where densification is deemed more
appropriate and feasible. The implications are however that the campus as a whole will need to
perform optimally as a living environment, servicing those who do find themselves living ‘on site’.
The DFP states clearly that there is no intention to expand the current estate beyond its defined
boundaries with the exception of two locations - Rustenberg Junior School and a site near the
Observatory Campus on Main Rd. There are no intentions of using the Zoo site although the DFP
does propose that UCT initiate “collaborative development initiatives” with SANParks related to
the Zoo Site. This is not seen as a priority and is only foreseen to be a reality if funding from other
parties is forthcoming.
Development opportunities mostly contribute to densification of the middle and lower campus to
create a more urban environment, although green aspects are excluded. The green landscape
framework is proposed to be reinforced through consolidation of green fingers running vertically
down the hill from Rhodes Drive/M3, and the horticultural consolidation of specific heritage
precincts where appropriate.
A set of performance criteria were defined, to guide and form the basis of evaluation of all future
spatial proposals, these are as follows:
• Equity: relates largely to the issue of access, particularly for those on foot and those with
disabilities;
UCT Heritage Park Management Framework: Final Draft Report, July 2012