Fresh scrap over divisive Hout Bay ‘wine farm’
The City of Cape Town’s plan to turn a Hout Bay property into a boutique wine farm, restaurant and museum was back before the city’s Planning Appeals Advisory Panel (PAAP), after a Western Cape High Court ruling overturned an earlier victory for residents who opposed the development.
News24 reports that the court set aside the PAAP’s previous decision, which had blocked the project in July 2024, and ordered that the matter be reconsidered from scratch.
The dispute returned to PAAP, effectively restarting the formal appeal process.
‘As such, the formal appeal process is starting afresh. This includes the consideration of the application by the PAAP and, thereafter, the Appeal Authority. The consideration includes the original proposal and objections, and any other relevant information in terms of the Municipal Planning By-law (MPBL),’ he said.
The development centres on Hout Bay Main Road, a 3,180m² property currently zoned for rural use and used as a dwelling.
In February 2024, the city’s Municipal Planning Tribunal (MPT) approved an application to allow a ‘tourist facility’ and ‘agricultural industry’, effectively permitting a boutique wine farm, restaurant and museum on the site.
The city said the proposal aligned with spatial planning policies, supported economic growth, and would not significantly impact traffic, the environment or surrounding properties.
However, the approval triggered an uproar from residents, with eight formal objections submitted, one representing 78 people.
News24 notes that residents argued the development would fundamentally change the character of the quiet, semi-rural neighbourhood and effectively introduce a commercial entertainment venue into a residential pocket.
Despite the city’s initial approval, the appeal authority sided with residents in July 2024 and overturned the decision.
However, that ruling did not stand. The matter was taken on judicial review, and in September last year, the High Court set aside the authority’s decision and sent it back to the city for reconsideration.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
