Limpopo’s single largest commercial real estate investment, Mall of the North, will also be an investment in the region’s natural environment, says Patrick Flanagan of Flanagan & Gerard.

Limpopo’s R1.2 billion, 75 000 m2 regional shopping centre is owned and developed by JSE-listed property company Resilient Property Income Fund, Flanagan and Gerard Property Development and Investment, and Moolman Group. Although it is set to open a year from now in the first quarter of 2011, it is already having a positive impact on its surrounds.

“A strong conservation ethos is being applied throughout the development of this regional shopping centre, integrating natural vegetation and elements into its actual design. Polokwane is characterised by its wildlife, bush environment and natural vegetation with strong elements of natural beauty,” says Flanagan. “It was essential for us to be respectful of the environment which hosts the development and we actively pursued numerous opportunities to conserve the natural elements of the site.”

One of the main conservation focuses of Mall of the North is to preserve the natural vegetation occurring on the site by removing it during construction and rehabilitating it once construction has been completed.

Already over 200 aloes have been safely removed from the land, and are now being cared for close to the development. These aloes will be replanted at the centre, once the development is complete.

Some of the rescued aloes are exceptionally tall, and there was a risk of the heads of the plants breaking off during the conservation process, says Flanagan. Polokwane has also had a lot of rain in the past season, and there was a risk that the aloes would rot.

Jannie Moolman of Moolman Group says despite these complications, almost all the aloes rescued will be rehabilitated in their natural environment. The aloes are being monitored. They are watered and cared for, and are checked regularly for any fungus or disease.

“The aloe relocation and rehabilitation programme is one of a number of conservation initiatives undertaken in the development of Mall of the North,” says Moolman.

“We wanted natural vegetation to be incorporated throughout the centre, with trees used densely in the open parking area that surrounds the centre.

“Wherever possible the earth, stone and vegetation from the site has been re-incorporated into the development. Natural crushed stone from the site has been used to create the gabions (wire-covered blocks filled with stone) that will be found in and around the centre. The rock has also been incorporated in the road upgrades taking place around the development.”

The developers say the benefits of this initiative go beyond ensuring that Mall of the North is truly a symbol of its location. By retaining and re-using as much earth and stone as possible on site, fuel emissions are decreased by eliminating the need to cart this material to landfill sites, and it also avoids increasing landfills.

“The movement towards environmental sustainability will extend beyond the development phase of Mall of the North,” says Flanagan. “We will also incorporate green initiatives into the daily running of the mall.”

Moolman says the mall is already 95% let and 700 applications for retail space have been received.