Sky bridges, or elevated walkways, can either be seen as a useful way to connect two buildings, or a way of cutting off activity from the street below.
For this reason, the City of Cape Town is seeking comment on its draft Sky Bridges Policy, which will provide guidelines on the desirability, planning and design of sky bridges in the city.
The aim of the policy is to ensure that sky bridges which are constructed provide a public benefit and contribute positively to the public realm, and do not detract from the city’s urban environment.
The City’s policy is to promote safe, mixed-use and pedestrian focused streets, encouraging commercial activity. It also seeks to protect important views and heritage fabric.
Current examples of sky bridges include the one over Strand Street, connecting the Cape Town Station and Golden Acre shopping centre, which provides safer and easier access for commuters moving into the city centre. There are others in the city centre. Another forms part of the recent upgrade to Cavendish Square Shopping Centre.
Sky bridges are often built by developers to connect private buildings above public streets, meaning that people can move between these conveniently and safely, in weatherproof conditions. But it also means that these people don’t interact with the street and city below, becoming exclusionary, while the streets below become unused, encouraging crime and other anti-social behaviour.
The City recognises that the proliferation and adverse effects of sky bridges in Cape Town needs to be limited.
The draft policy will attempt to prevent sky bridges from becoming spatial barriers, as well as blocking views of significant buildings and landscapes in the city.
Proposed sky bridges will be assessed in terms of how well they serve the public interest, and whether they will detract from the cityscape.
The draft policy will set out the information and submission material needed to effectively evaluate proposals. Best practice design guidelines will also be included.
The draft policy also reinforces the City’s aim of creating a walkable, pedestrian-friendly city, full of lively, vibrant streets and public spaces, where the pavements remain the principle place of pedestrian movement and casual social interaction.
The deadline for submissions is Thursday May 31, 2012. It is expected that the draft policy will be submitted to the Executive Mayor for policy approval in September 2012.
The draft policy is available on the City’s website at as well as at all subcouncil offices, libraries and district offices.
Written comments can be made in any of the following ways:
- By post to Spatial Planning and Urban Design, PO Box 4511, Cape Town 8000 (for attention: Tamara Crewe-Brown)
- By fax to 021 421 6209
- By e-mail to future.capetown@capetown.gov.za
- Online
