Liberty Properties has announced it is planning to spend R300m to refurbish and expand Liberty Promenade, its shopping centre in the Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha area.

“The addition of some 24,000 m² will make Liberty Promenade the biggest shopping centre in a previously disadvantaged area in South Africa. The investment demonstrates our commitment to helping build South Africa,” says Caswell Rampheri, managing director of Liberty Property Development.

The massive expansion plans come in response to huge growth in the centre since Liberty took over the property in 2004. The group says major national tenants and prospective retailers have all requested additional space.

Pick n Pay is undertaking a 5,500 m² extension, turning its store into a Pick n Pay Hyper, and making it one of their largest stores in the Western Cape.

Building work is expected to begin in April 2009, with the project planned to complete in the last quarter of 2010.