Uproar over ‘illegal’ building on The Bluff
Residents are urging the eThekwini Municipality to dismantle the structure due to privacy concerns.
HOMEOWNERS on The Bluff are in a heated dispute with a developer over the construction of a 12-unit double-storey building on Lloyd Avenue.
The residents claim that the developer has bypassed proper consultation and failed to adhere to building procedural by-laws, including not obtaining the necessary approvals from eThekwini Municipality.
Also read: Frustrations at Bluff noisemakers grow
A building inspector from the municipality surveyed the site and subsequently obtained a court interdict to halt construction. Although attempts to reach the building owner for comment were unsuccessful, residents have confirmed that construction has ceased following the court order.
Former ward councillor and Lloyd Avenue resident Dr Duncan Du Bois expressed concern about the lack of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the project. He noted that the rapid construction, which began after the property was sold at an auction, did not include consultations with the directly affected neighbours at 53 and 55 Lloyd Avenue. Du Bois emphasised that the construction violates the neighbours’ privacy rights and urged that any future building on the premises adhere strictly to EIA findings.
Also read: New access road approved to ease truck congestion on The Bluff
Residents have also voiced concerns about the inadequate parking provisions for the proposed units, the potential increase in traffic on the narrow roads, and the impact on property values if town-planning regulations are disregarded. Neighbour Douglas Horne highlighted the invasion of privacy caused by the building’s design, which has windows and doors facing directly into his property.
The residents have called for the demolition of the already constructed portions of the building and plan to address their concerns to eThekwini’s new mayor, Cyril Xaba, who has pledged to prioritise the interests of ratepayers. Additionally, there are worries about whether the sanitation infrastructure can handle the increased load of the new development.
As of the latest updates, no official comment has been received from the eThekwini Municipality.
For more Southlands Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox.
Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
