Verticalisation Approach to Property Development: A Feasability Study of Harare

This paper’s thrust focuses on the feasibility of verticalisation approach to property development with main emphasis on the capacities, opportunities and restraints to achieve sustainable property development in Harare. It clarifies that escalating urban population has triggered the demand for building infrastructure hence pressure on land so vertical expansion has been a planning approach to urban growth in conquest to curb urban sprawl in interrelated platform with property development in the developing world. Regarding its capabilities to embrace sustainable property development there have been questions arising on, how capable are the urban locales in embracing the concept?, what restraining factors can hinder its application? and what victories can it bring to property development?. In conquest to address these questions an investigation of building heights and land uses , analysis of planning policies, institutions, legislation and regulations in the town of Harare underpins the opportunities of less land consumption, low construction costs and reduced urban sprawl and also challenges of outdated, rigid planning regulations, technological incapacities, financial constraints, incompatible old buildings designs. These research underpinnings calls for reform on policy, legislative and institutional frameworks governing verticalisation. Also the paper clarifies on the need for encompassing verticalisation process in the urban planning regulations and guidelines with considerations of sustainable urban expansion. Technically there is also need to strengthen technological capacity of the construction industry as the paper shall explore.