Following years of planning, negotiation, and consultation, the Amdec Group last week took a significant step towards realising its vision for Harbour Arch when it signed a construction contract valued at over R1 billion, confirming the Group’s appointment of WBHO as the main contractor on the project. WBHO will be responsible for the construction and delivery of the first tower at Harbour Arch, the much-awaited R15 billion mixed-use development at the gateway to the Cape Town CBD.
Present at the signing were James Wilson, CEO of the Amdec Group; Amdec Property Developments Managing Director Nicholas Stopforth, Contract Director Gary Maclear, and Project Manager Richard Crowther; Fergus D’Arcy from D’Arcy Hedding Quantity Surveyors; Albertyn Smit and Dale Blanchard, Managing Director and Contracts Director of WBHO Cape respectively.
Speaking at the signing of the contract, WBHO’s Albertyn Smit thanked the Amdec Group for the opportunity and for entrusting his company with the construction of this significant and ground breaking project. “The industry desperately needs this project, from a morale perspective” he said, “there is so much negativity at the moment, so the signing of this contract sends a very positive and encouraging message to the industry at large”.
Echoing his sentiments, Amdec Group CEO James Wilson said he hoped Harbour Arch will act as a much-needed confidence booster for Cape Town, for South Africa, and for the property and construction industries. “We are delighted to be able to play our part in bringing joy to the property market along with much needed job opportunities within a sector that has been ravaged in recent years”.
“We hope that Harbour Arch will kick-start further ambitious large-scale development within the Cape Town CBD, and allow us to hold our own against other iconic capital cities around the world”, he said.
The Amdec Group has enjoyed a long-standing and positive relationship with WBHO, who were also the main contractor at The Yacht Club, the Amdec Group’s R1.4 billion mixed-use development in Cape Town’s Roggebaai canal precinct. “The Yacht Club project was completed to the highest possible standards, on time and within budget, so WBHO were an automatic first choice for Harbour Arch”, said Nicholas Stopforth, Managing Director of Amdec Property Developments. “We have an excellent working relationship with the WBHO team – one based on trust, mutual respect, and a shared culture of passion, commitment, and service excellence”, he said.
Work commenced on site at Harbour Arch in January 2020. Bulk earthworks have since been completed so WBHO are now able to move onsite and commence with construction in earnest. “We expect Harbour Arch to start rising out of the ground early in the new year, signifying the birth of a new icon within the Cape Town CBD” concluded Stopforth.
Completion of Harbour Arch tower number one – which includes parking, street level retail, an 8th floor lifestyle podium lined with bustling coffee shops, pavement cafes, and restaurants, and 432 luxury apartments – is due for completion in April 2023.