New 10,000-square-metre shopping centre in South Africa’s richest province with a Shoprite, Clicks, KFC, McDonald’s, and Burger King
A new 10,000 m² shopping centre is planned for Vanderbijlpark in Gauteng, with Shoprite, Clicks and several major fast-food brands among its proposed tenants.
Scheduled for completion at the end of August 2027, Sunbird Central Shopping Centre is being developed by Abland Property Developers.
The shopping centre is being built on the eastern side of Vanderbijlpark, an industrial town in Gauteng, located on the banks of the Vaal River.
It forms part of the Vaal Triangle alongside Vereeniging and Sasolburg, an area historically associated with South Africa’s steel and manufacturing industries.
The town was established in the 1940s following the expansion of South Africa’s steel industry. It was named after electrical engineer and industrialist Hendrik van der Bijl.
The new Sunbird Central development is positioned to serve a broad residential market, including the nearby townships of Boipatong and Sharpeville.
According to Abland, the centre will offer a mix of grocery stores, fashion retailers and fast-food outlets. The planned tenant mix includes Shoprite, Clicks, KFC, McDonald’s and Burger King.
The development is intended to provide residents with access to everyday shopping, food and other retail services closer to home.
Abland said the architecture will be designed to maximise exposure and visibility. It said the area’s established residential base and cultural history are important considerations in the development.
The centre is also intended to support economic activity in the area by bringing national retail brands and other businesses into one location.
“With its distinctive architectural design and strong local connectivity, Sunbird Central is set to become a vibrant retail hub that supports the area’s continued growth and development,” Abland said.
Abland Property Developers
Established in 1990, Abland Property Developers has spent more than three decades developing office, retail, industrial, motor, residential and mixed-use properties across South Africa.
The company focuses on creating premium spaces for businesses and communities, attracting major local and international tenants to its developments.
Its projects range from individual office and retail buildings to large mixed-use precincts. Abland provides a turnkey development solution and manages projects from the initial concept through to completion and operation.
According to Abland, its approach considers factors such as sustainable building practices, transport links, connectivity, security, accessibility and green surroundings.
When it comes to its retail portfolio, the company focuses heavily on identifying suitable locations and developing sustainable concepts that accommodate diverse tenant mixes.
Some of its completed developments include Central Blue Shopping Centre and Saxdowne Shopping Centre in Cape Town, as well as Groot Phesantekraal View in Durbanville.
Apart from Sunbird Central Shopping Centre, Abland also has several other large projects in its development pipeline, which are being built across the country.
These include the 187,000 m² Rietvlei Precinct and 90,000 m² Irene Link Precinct in Irene, as well as the 278,800 m² Samrand Industrial Quarter in Centurion.
Other projects include the 1.2 million m² Lanseria Commercial Crossing, the 600,000 m² Groot Phesantekraal Precinct in Durbanville and the 1.5 million m² Botfontein Park Precinct in Cape Town, all listed as coming soon.
Abland also has several projects under construction, including The Rubik office development in Cape Town, Canal Plaza, and Mopane View in Soshanguve.
Photos of Sunbird Central Shopping Centre
