This article is the preface to a series of articles aimed at exploring some of the development programs planned for the City of Johannesburg. This information will provide property investors with valuable insight and knowledge that can have a direct impact on the purchasing decisions of investors buying property in the City of Johannesburg and surrounding regions. In particular, the article series will centre focus on the "Density and Nodal Programme for the City of Johannesburg". This program was published by the City of Johannesburg in 2005 but to date, many property investors have no knowledge of the information contained in the report.

The "Density and Nodal Programme for the City of Johannesburg" report focused on the rational for restructuring the city. The report was based on discussion papers, legislation and policies and served to  motivate and provide direction for a new way of developing and integrating fragmented cities, focusing on sustainable development, compactness to prevent sprawl and support for public transport.

The report placed much focus on the concept of densification, residential densification and nodal development in terms of an envisaged city structure. This was inline with various pieces of national and provincial legislation and resulted in a policy framework for urban restructuring. The aim was to provide a Nodal and Density Programme for implementing the nodal and density policy as contained in the Strategic Development Framework of the City of Joburg. The document dealt specifically with the nodal and density policy in relation to other policies. The Integrated Transportation Plan and related Strategic Public Transport Network formed the basis for the Nodal and Density Programme and the Development Programmes for the City as identified in the SDF formed the basis for the implementation approach and identification of priorities. Other important drivers identified for the report where the Gautrain Project and the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

Many of the initiatives detailed in report are in progress today and most certainly can have a direct impact on the decisions of property investors when evaluating specific purchases in context of location. By presenting this series of articles it is hoped that members of the Property Investor Network will be better informed and empowered with the knowledge they need to evaluate their purchasing decisions in relation to the broader picture of development within the region.

Since the series will focus largely on the "Density and Nodal Programme for the City of Johannesburg", articles will loosely follow the structure of the report covering:

• definitions set out in the report,
• description of the envisaged structure,
• discussion of the existing city structure, and
• plans for the implementation of the strategy

Since the subject of this series is involved, articles may be many and of considerable length. To ensure that everyone has the chance to read and digest the information presented and to make certain that we can deliver the articles at a reasonable pace, we will publish one article per month with announcement in our monthly newsletter.

We hope to followup this series with a new series of articles purely focused on the Spatial Development Frameworks and Regional Spatial Development Frameworks developed during 2006 and into 2007. At time of writing, a total of 11 Regional Spatial Development Frameworks had been presented as a component of the IDP in terms of the Municipal Systems Act of 2000.

For the purpose of discussion we have opened a board in the Property Investing section of the forum. We hope this will provide a place for discussing the series of articles presented to be presented. In addition to providing your perspective, we also invite you to provide feedback as to the content and value of these articles.

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