Construction World June 2021

CIVIL ENGINGEERING

SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT DISRUPTED:

By now, we have probably all become familiar with the term 'the new normal'. It is becoming an increasingly popular way to describe the disruptive effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, from the new norm of remote work, to the rise of teleconferencing, or to massive changes in shopping behaviour as everyone tries to minimise human contact. It has changed the way we organise our lives – but it is also changing how we organise our cities. There’s some food for thought. By Wayne Neary, MD, Icon Group Location, location, location COVID-19 IS CHANGING THE WAY WE BUILD

The rise of ecommerce from businesses and individuals alike is putting increased demand on the logistics industry and, with that, spurring increased demand in warehousing in metro-adjacent areas. During lockdown, people turned to the internet to make their purchases, and logistic companies had to quickly fast track their growth and development strategies. Pre-COVID-19, the Icon Group was already well-versed in site preparation for large industrial and warehousing developments. Our project portfolio is a clear demonstration of the impact of companies like Takealot and Amazon. However, after some uncertainty at the start of lockdown with many industries shutting down, it seems the logistics industry is alive and well – and in need for more space for stock, trucks, and general operations. The massive growth in e-commerce caused by the need to socially distance has put Death of the office park? Not quite Despite the changes in the way we live and work, I don’t think we will every truly see an end to office developments. Some industries can’t work without it, and many businesses are finding that remote work is not their preferred option owing to several reasons such as difficulties with collaboration or training new workers. However, we might see more mixed-use developments as property developers avoid putting all their eggs in one basket. During lockdown, there were countless office rental agreements cancelled and property development players are unlikely to continue building large-scale offices in such a saturated market. More developments with a mix of office, residential and retail space are sure to be on Icon’s radar for earthworks and civil works in the coming years. Whatever happens, it is sure to be interesting. The Icon Group is ready to put our experienced team and state-of-the-art equipment to work on whatever developments are required by the 'new normal.' ▄

As a start, let’s think about housing. Before we knew what COVID-19 was, we were seeing a change in the way people thought about housing. 'Location, location, location,' changed meaning. Where it used to be about finding a home in an idyllic northern suburb of Johannesburg, for example, priorities shifted to residing closer to work. South Africans started choosing convenience, over traffic jams. In fact, the Icon Group noticed an increased demand for earthworks on residential developments peripheral to Johannesburg and Pretoria. Housing complexes boomed in Midrand, Centurion, and in the south and west of Johannesburg. Enter lockdown. A year since the State of Emergency was announced by the South African government, and it has been a slow return to the office for many companies. As remote work becomes more widely accepted, decentralised housing is sure to be on the rise. Already there are reports of increased interest in what the real estate industry has deemed 'Zoom towns'. In the Western Cape, for example, housing demand has increased in towns with easy access to Cape Town and good amenities, but not for towns which are too far for a daily commute – think Hermanus, Ceres, and Rooi Els. We might soon see a similar trend in Gauteng as people consider moving to the Vaal triangle, for example. In KwaZulu-Natal, Durbanites might soon find themselves in Southbroom or Richards Bay. Of course, not everyone can work remotely and move permanently to a holiday home, but I think it’s fair to say that residential property development is going to get shaken up. At the very least, I foresee that new developments will put greater consideration into making room for workspaces in new homes. We will see three-bedroom homes being sold as 'two bedrooms and a spacious office with fibre connection'. And with that, logistics As a consumer’s location is changing, so is their buying behaviour.

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