The major ground works that can be seen near the Garden Route Mall are preparations for the first phase of the R600-million Eden Meander Lifestyle Centre.

Inset: Extensive ground works near the Garden Route Mall have started for the Eden Meander development (Photo: Alida de Beer).

According to the developer, Tibo Terblanche the first phase comprises a 7 000m² building for Builders' Warehouse.

The 40 000m² centre had initially been met with much opposition from the CBD Forum because of concerns that another shopping centre on the outskirts of town would have a negative impact on the CBD, as did the opening of the Garden Route Mall a few years ago.

At the time, the CBD had experienced a setback as a result of an exodus of shoppers and tenants.
An Auto Boutique of 25 000m² forms part of Eden Meander.