Durban North Area Profile

Durban North at a glance

Durban North is an upmarket area found to the north of Durban. It lies between the N2 freeway and the eastern seashore. The Umgeni River forms its southern boundary. While it has affluent residential suburbs, such as La Lucia in the north, it is a hotspot for commercial and industrial activity.

Chris Hani Road (Old North Coast Road) is the main industrial arterial in Durban North, along with Briardene and Glen Anil.

History

In 1927, a property development company bought a large tract of land just north of the Umgeni River. It was previously known as the Prospect Hall Sugar Estate at the time. The company laid out plans for the development of the land to be turned into a residential suburb.

At the time access to the land across the Umgeni was limited to the Connaught Bridge. In November 1927 the company completed the iron girder Athlone Bridge across the Umgeni River to link the new suburb to the established area of Stamford Hill.

After the completion of the bridge, Durban North began to rapidly develop. It was soon followed by Virginia in the 1950s and Glenashley in the 1970s.

Commercial hotspots

Durban is is on the radar for companies looking for commercial properties to rent and buy. The mixed-use buildings available in the area varying from the older multi-story warehouses along the North Coast Road to brand new developments. Durban North further has a vast labour base in nearby areas of KwaMashu and Phoenix.

Easily accessible from the N2 freeway, Glen Anil can be found on the east and west of Chris Hani Road. The area is popular with distribution, automotive, logistics and other service providing companies. Future plans for the area include a massive 55 ha logistics park which is currently in the construction phase.

Well-know tenants in the area of Glen Anil include:

• Araf Industries (Pty) Ltd.;
• Upside Distribution;
• DSV;
• Durban Pallets;
• Aquazania;
• Puréau Bidvest;
• We Buy Cars;
• Perry Bikes;
• World Net Logistics;
• Teichmann Group;
• Santos Hardware; and
• WBHO.

Industrial hotspots

Chris Hani Road is the main industrial arterial in Durban North. The node is based at the most northern point of Chris Hani Road next to the KwaMashu on and off-ramp of the N2 freeway. It is conveniently accessible via Rinaldo Road from Umhlanga Rocks Drive.
The industrial node of Red Hill consists of small to medium size warehousing and factories.

Popular industrial parks in Red Hill are:

• Greenfields;
• Glen Murray Industrial Park;
• Northmead Industrial Park;
• Red Hill Industrial Park;
• Rinaldo Business Park; and
• Constantia Park.

Infrastructure

Durban North's central location makes it an ideal choice for both commercial and industrial enterprises. The area attracts a wide array of warehousing facilities and container yards.

Businesses such as Vector Logistics, Life Clothing Company, Alpha Chemicals, Ethekwini Plastic Manufacturers, Grace Pharmaceuticals, Phoenix Industrial And Safety Suppliers, as well as UFM Office Furniture Manufacturers can be found in Durban North.

Transport

Private vehicles, public taxis, and the Durban Transport Buses are the most popular transport options available for those travelling to Durban North. The Durban CBD is easily accessible via the N3, if coming from inland, or the M4 along the coast.

The Ruth First Highway (M4) connects Durban North to the Durban CBD and Umhlanga Rocks along the coast. Virginia Airport is situated along the northern shoreline. The M12 Kenneth Kaunda Road/Umhlanga Rocks drive links the western suburbs of Durban North to the Umhlanga Ridge.

King Shaka International Airport and the Durban Port are a breeze to get to from Durban North.

Amenities

Durban North's beaches include Beachwood, Virginia, and Glenashley beaches. The Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve conserves the shoreline north of the Blue Lagoon.

Shopping malls near Durban North include Gateway Theatre of Shopping, La Lucia Mall, and The Crescent @ Umhlanga Ridge.

For healthcare options, hospitals include Durban North Medical & Dental, Netcare Parklands Hospital, Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre, and a network of healthcare practitioners.

Durban North is home to some of the province's top school, such as Danville Park Girls' High School, Hamptons High School, and Northwood Boys High School.

Independent higher education provider, Varsity College also has a campus situated in Durban North.

Why invest in Durban North

Durban North is an affluent area known for its bustling industrial node. Businesses prefer the area as a result of its central location to both the airport and harbour. It is also a convenient spot for workers to travel to from neighbouring suburbs.

The Port of Durban is 20 km away from Durban North. It is the most active container port in the country and is the busiest in Africa. It is also rated as one of the ten largest ports in the world.

Create your upside in Durban North

In the market for a commercial or industrial property to buy or rent in Durban North? Get in touch with Upside Properties today. Our specialised agents are ready to assist you.

View our industrial/commercial new developments for rent in Durban North here.

View our industrial properties for sale in Durban North here.

View our industrial properties for rent in Durban North here.

Need further assistance? Contact us here.