Property developer Hyprop is planning a massive expansion project at the Glen Shopping centre in southern Johannesburg that will add nearly 20,000 m² of shopping space, in preparation for an upturn in the market.

The group is splashing out a cool R370m on the expansion project, which will add 1,100 new parking bays and 19,000m² of retail space, in addition to improved access to the shopping centre including a double lane from the nearby offramp.

“The Glen should prove a strong attraction away from the traffic-congested northern suburbs of Johannesburg,” added Glen general manager Roy Licht, as quoted in Engineering News.

Licht also noted that the current downturn in the economic cycle is the ideal time for expansion - to prepare for growth in the inevitable recovery.