An in-depth look at Woodstock's Industrial Sector

Cape Town’s industrial and commercial hub for the creative industries.

Ideally located 1 kilometre east of the City Centre, between the docks of Table Bay and the lower slopes of Devil's Peak, Woodstock is a trendy suburb of Cape Town with a rich history. What was once a relaxed seaside resort, Woodstock flourished from the late 1800s due to ease of access to the harbour, excellent location to main transport routes, increased industrialisation and a rapidly growing working class population. Woodstock beach was lost during the land reclamation of Table Bay in the 1950s in order to create the Foreshore. It is one of the few suburbs that managed to remain integrated during Apartheid and survived being declared a ‘whites only’ area – it was spared the forced removals and demolition of houses that happened in nearby District Six. Woodstock became known as a culturally diverse area in the 1970s and 1980s, laying the foundation for the urban renewal which was to start in the late 1990s. Today, it is one of the city’s hippest spots for food, fashion, art and design, yet still features many industrial units available to investors and tenants.

Industrial space here is in high demand, and Woodstock in particular is extremely popular among tenants looking for distribution/warehousing facilities for the arts and design, home décor, clothing and film industries. Since being declared an Urban Development Zone (UDZ), a number of disused buildings have undergone major refurbishment. This has resulted in the area becoming a hotspot for mixed-use developments. Below are some examples of these increasingly popular developments, many of which used to be industrial buildings:

Old Biscuit Mill

Situated in a 19th factory, the Old Biscuit Mill is home to day and night markets, dynamic office space, a range of workshops and designer stores and excellent restaurants.

Old Castle Brewery

The Old Castle Brewery, designed by New York architect, H. Steinmann in 1901 was saved from demolition and restored to its former glory over a period of 20 years. Beach Road in front of it serves as a reminder of where the shoreline once ran and today it is home to many in-demand commercial spaces.

Palms Centre and Market

This shopping centre is home to many furniture, décor and fabric shops, a small craft brewery and the SMAC art gallery. The centre also hosts a Saturday market with more than 40 food traders and live music.

Sidestreet Studios

A collection of three once-derelict buildings offering small, affordable studio space, free WiFi and shared office services for creatives. It also includes a residency programme for artists, providing them with accommodation and studio space in exchange for selected pieces of artwork.

Woodstock Exchange

Once an industrial space, this building is now a modern, creative hub and home to designer shops and creative services, artisanal coffee shops and eateries, as well as the SAE Institute that offers studies in animation, film making and sound production.

The Woodstock Foundry

A former cast metal foundry, this building houses a small but eclectic mix of retail offerings that double up as studio and workshop spaces.

Woodstock’s prime location near major highways, train stations, the harbour and CBD makes it one of the most sought-after areas for investors and tenants, especially those in the creative industries. If you are interested in finding out more about available industrial units in this area, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and get in touch with one the specialist brokers at API Property Group today for an extensive list of the latest available listings.