Cape Town Approves Rezoning for Hyperscale Equinix Data Centre

The City of Cape Town’s Municipal Planning Tribunal (MPT) has supported an application to rezone land for Equinix’s second hyperscale data centre in the city, despite strong objections from community advocacy groups that questioned the project’s environmental and social impacts. The proposed development forms part of a planned 174 MVA hyperscale data centre at King Air Industria (KAI), an industrial precinct being developed on land owned by the King David Golf Club. Equinix has applied to rezone the site from Mixed Use to General Industrial to accommodate the facility.

Community Groups Raise Environmental Concerns

Housing Assembly and Foxglove opposed the rezoning, arguing that the application lacked sufficient detail for the tribunal to properly assess the project’s impact. In their submission, the organisations said the publicly available documents did not adequately address key issues including projected water consumption, electricity demand, diesel generator use, fuel storage, air pollution, cooling systems, emissions and the scale of the proposed buildings.

The groups argued that these omissions prevented communities from understanding how the development could affect local infrastructure and essential public services.

Equinix Says Detailed Assessments Will Follow

Representing Equinix before the tribunal, Lisa van Aarde said the project would strengthen Cape Town’s digital economy by expanding the city’s critical digital infrastructure.

She said both Equinix and the KAI developer remained committed to complying with all applicable environmental and planning legislation throughout the project.

Van Aarde rejected suggestions that the developers were withholding information, arguing that the rezoning application contained the appropriate level of detail required at this stage of the planning process.

She explained that technical design elements would be addressed during the future Site Development Plan (SDP) process. Should additional studies or approvals be required under the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), the Municipal Planning By-law or National Building Regulations, those would be submitted to the relevant authorities as the project progressed.

Legal Challenge Focuses on Information Gaps

Appearing on behalf of the objectors, Legal Resources Centre (LRC) attorney Kimal Harvey argued that the city’s planning by-laws do not clearly distinguish between smaller data centres and large hyperscale facilities.

Harvey said the difference is significant because the planning, environmental and infrastructure implications of hyperscale developments are considerably greater. The objectors maintained that the application failed to provide enough information for the tribunal to properly evaluate the project’s desirability and its potential socio-economic and environmental impacts on surrounding communities.

The LRC urged the MPT to reject the rezoning application and require Equinix to submit a new application containing substantially more information about the development’s anticipated impacts.

Water and Power Consumption Under Scrutiny

The objectors also questioned how the proposed facility would affect Cape Town’s electricity and water resources. According to the LRC, hyperscale data centres require substantial amounts of electricity to operate servers, while cooling systems often depend on a reliable water supply to prevent equipment from overheating.

Without clear information on the proposed cooling technology, water source and expected consumption, the organisation argued that nearby communities cannot properly assess whether the development could place additional pressure on the city’s already constrained utility infrastructure.

The LRC said these concerns are particularly relevant for residents who have experienced electricity outages, rising energy costs, water shortages and unreliable access to basic municipal services.

Harvey told the tribunal that it should not approve an application that, in the objectors’ view, does not fully disclose the nature and implications of the proposed development or adequately consider the constitutional rights and interests of neighbouring communities.

Appeal Still Under Consideration

Following the tribunal’s decision to support the rezoning application, Harvey said the Legal Resources Centre would consult with its clients before deciding whether to lodge an appeal.

“We will be discussing with our clients and talking about next steps. We will then release a statement confirming,” he said.

The MPT’s recommendation advances the rezoning process, although the project may still face further regulatory approvals before construction of the proposed hyperscale data centre can begin.

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