The 42 hectares of land that is now Beachwood Golf Course was set aside in the 1920’s as a golf course by the developer, Durban North Estates, as a recreational amenity linked to its residential township development – a pioneering residential/golf course estate development. In 1949 the land was sold to Beachwood Golf Club and thereafter in 1998 it was transferred to Durban Country Club as part of the merger of the two Clubs.
In 2014 the Durban Country Club made a Town Planning application to develop a small 2,4 hectare portion of the golf course for residential purposes. The proposal received Town Planning approval but was stalled by objections, appeals and a Court application. Owing to increasing financial pressure the Durban Country Club eventually sold the property to Beachwood Investments (Pty) Ltd in 2017.
The property however remains a golf course thanks to the inclusion by Durban North Estates of a condition in the Title Deed that restricts the use of the property to a golf course and other recreational uses. This condition is in fact a servitude in favour of all the roads in Durban North.
Beachwood Investments has made no secret of its ambition to substantially develop the land with a residential/hotel development which is the subject of the current environmental application. In the meanwhile the golf course and clubhouse continue to function under an interim lease.
The development proposals have attracted a lot of interest and the majority view is that the recreational component must be preserved by retaining a championship golf course. It is appreciated that a hotel/resort which can sit comfortably alongside the golf course is necessary for the viability of the property.
Such a development will also go a long way to respecting the recreational use servitude in the Title Deed. It should also be noted that the abovementioned Durban Country Club residential proposal, as approved by Town Planning, failed in the High Court and was duly set aside because of the servitude.
That High Court Order is relevant for the Durban North community because all Durban North property owners take access off the very roads that the servitude is in favour of, thus making the residents of Durban North “Interested and Affected parties” who should be consulted. This forum is accordingly seeking the support of the interested and affected residents of Durban North in assisting to retain the recreational status of the land that is Beachwood Golf Course.