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For people looking for space and proximity to the sea, Sandown is hard to beat. Positioned between the N7 and West Coast Road, Sandown links you to the greater Cape Town area, Cape Town International Airport and the West Coast.
In 2014 the development of this brand new suburb – mainly a residential development with an established top private school, easy access to MyCiTi Bus routes, extensive recreational and open spaces as well as commercial mixed-use properties –began with an estimated R3billion investment.
Today Sandown offers a relaxed lifestyle with access to major routes and various amenities such as the local Virgin Active, the Table Bay Mall, Food Lover’s Market and Checkers Hyper.
There is high demand for rental units and investors enjoy excellent returns. - Fran Barlow, Sandown Area Specialist for Greeff Properties
Picture: Marguerite Photography (www.margueritephotography.co.za)
It is also close to excellent lifestyle activities and schools. The suburb’s short drive to the beach adds to its appeal. Sandown has been carefully designed to ensure large land areas create a greenbelt where fynbos can flourish, says Fran Barlow, Greeff area specialist in the western seaboard.
“These natural elements are dominant in the urban design framework of Sandown through the creation of open-space systems.”
The suburb is still largely under construction, she says, with Phase 1A and Phase 2 underway. Phase 1 has access to Sandown’s campus of Parklands College’s high school as well as the adjoining residential properties.
Currently, Phase one offers two main residential complexes: The Sandown Lifestyle Estate and Sagewood. The Sandown Lifestyle Estate has a range of starter and familysized properties. Offerings range from one-bedroom/one bathroom flats of 43.5m² to three-bedroom/ two bathroom of 109.3m².
“The Sandown Lifestyle Estate is an early development in the area and popular with investors as well as first-time buyers. Apartments in this estate have between one, two and three bedrooms. These apartments are currently being resold, mostly to investors, as they offer the huge advantage of a secure and well-managed complex.”
The estate offers a lifestyle centre including a gym, spa, restaurant, communal pool and braai facilities. Prices range from roughly R950 000 for a one-bedroom apartment up to R1.8 million for a three-bedroom apartment.
Many of the luxury homes in Sandown have views and double garages. Picture: Henk Kruger/African News Agency (ANA)
Sagewood, meanwhile, is more popular with families and offers larger properties ranging in size from 229m² to 767m², says Barlow. Property prices range from R2.3m for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom property and up to R5.5m for a four-bedroom, four-bathroom home.
Rents in Sandown are doing well and Barlow says there is a high rental demand with investors enjoying “an excellent return in this complex”.
Places to go and things to do in Sandown
1 Outdoors
Sandown’s proximity to Blouberg beach, coupled with Cape Town’s amenable climate and almost ideal wind conditions, make sea-based water sports a natural choice for lovers of the outdoors.
Stand up paddle boarding, kayaking and kite-surfing are increasingly popular and there are several schools offering lessons along with kit rentals. Importantly, age is not a barrier to many of these sports.
Cabrinha are based in the Eden on the Bay Shopping Centre and offer various packages (0215541729). Not exactly on Sandown’s doorstep but just a short drive away is the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds.
The organisation’s primary objective is to reverse the decline of sea bird populations through the rescue, rehabilitation and release of ill, injured, abandoned and oiled sea birds. Visitors are welcome, but it’s best to call first and check (0215576155).
Sandown’s proximity to Blouberg beach is ideal for getting into water-based sports. Picture: Henk Kruger/African News Agency (ANA)
2 Shop
If retail therapy is your go-to activity, Sandown residents are spoilt for choice. Sandown Retail Crossing, anchored by Checkers Hyper, is a short walk from The Sandown Lifestyle Estate. The recently-launched Table Bay Mall is a single-level shopping centre with 150 shops and more than 3 000 parking bays.
Eden on the Bay is another popular choice for residents in the greater community.
3 Eat
Sandown and environs are well served by a full range of the traditional fast food outlets, and the Golden Arches against a backdrop of Table Mountain is quite awesome.
But it’s the Bread & Butter Café that really gets the tastebuds watering. They literally boast a table groaning with delicacies – the cakes are so enticing – and they are also known for their iteration of Eggs Benedict.
Amazingly in this day and age, everything is made on site. Open seven days a week – hours do vary – but give them a call before heading out for a special treat (0215545817).
What’s a sporting event without delicious biltong, and Biltong Master is a purveyor of some of the finest. There’s a huge variety and they are all halaal (0215541109).
4 Drink
In spite of Sandown’s recent emergence as a residential precinct it boasts some of the oldest wine estates in the country, including, for instance, Durbanville Hills.
This venture was started by nine member farms with the youngest established in 1714 and the oldest in 1688. Initially acclaimed for their sauvignon blanc, the estate is now gaining a reputation for its reds too. They conduct tastings every day but it’s advisable to book before you head there (0215581300).