Hammarsdale Area Guide

Industrial Property to Let in Hammarsdale – Logistics and Manufacturing Ready

400–20,000 sqm industrial units in Hammarsdale, including Keystone Park, Valvick, Hammarsdale Industrial Park, Coveway and Spurwing. Ideal for warehousing, logistics, and light manufacturing.

Introduction

If you’re hunting for industrial space in KwaZulu-Natal, Hammarsdale should be on your shortlist. It’s not Durban, not Cato Ridge—but right in between. And that’s the point. You get proximity to port, highway, and dry port without the congestion or cost of the big-name hubs. We’ve seen a serious shift in logistics, warehousing, and manufacturing outfits heading out this way—and for good reason. Let’s unpack what’s actually happening on the ground in Hammarsdale and whether it suits your business.

Area Overview

Hammarsdale’s past was mostly rural, known for poultry farms and textile mills. But in the last 15 years, it’s transformed into a logistics and light industrial corridor. This shift was driven by land availability, upgrades to the N3 corridor, and the promise of the Cato Ridge Dry Port, now partially operational. The area now draws national distributors, FMCG warehousing, packaging plants, and more.

It sits about 40km west of Durban, tucked between Inchanga and Cato Ridge. For businesses looking to move goods in and out of Durban without paying central eThekwini premiums, this is the sweet spot. There’s also support from both municipal and provincial initiatives aimed at decentralising industry.

Business & Market Insights

Keystone Park really kicked things off. Once Mr Price and Ackermans moved their distribution centres here, others followed. The tenant mix now includes FMCG, logistics, and food processing, with strong demand for 2,000–6,000 sqm facilities.

The bulk of leasing interest is from:

• Third-party logistics firms

• Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG)

• Packaging and plastics

• Cold chain operators

• Light assembly or clean manufacturing

Rents range from R43–R50/sqm, depending on size and spec. Larger DC-style buildings, especially those with cross-docking or large yards, push toward the top end. Smaller industrial units (say 400–1,500 sqm) see more turnover but also higher availability.

Infrastructure & Accessibility

Let’s get practical. What makes Hammarsdale viable isn’t just hype—it’s the road and service backbone. The N3 highway is minutes away, linking to Durban in under 40 minutes and to Johannesburg in about 5.5 hours.

Main arteries like Mthoko Mkhize Drive and Buckingham Road give direct access to industrial sites. Importantly, road upgrades are ongoing. The interchange improvements have reduced congestion, and there’s been focused resurfacing on key routes.

Power supply is stable. Parks like Keystone and Spurwing offer 3-phase power and high-voltage capacity, with backup solutions standard in larger facilities. Water and sanitation are reliable, and fibre rollout is solid in newer nodes.

Transport for staff isn’t perfect, but it’s manageable. Minibus taxis operate along key routes, and some firms run shuttle buses. The workforce is drawn from surrounding areas like Mpumalanga, Inchanga, and Cato Ridge, so labour isn’t a problem.

Property Landscape

You’ve got a mix of purpose-built facilities, speculative warehouses, and development land. Some nodes are fully built-out, others still in the works.

Here’s a quick look at what’s available:

Keystone Park

• Sizes: 5,000–30,000 sqm

• Tenants: Mr Price DC, Ackermans, Pepkor, Kerry Group

• Features: Cross-dock setups, large yards, rooftop sprinklers

• Rates: ~R50/sqm gross

Spurwing Industrial Park

• Sizes: 400–20,000 sqm

• New builds, neat warehousing with office components

• Pricing: Around R50/sqm

• Security: 24-hour access control

Coveway Industrial Park

• Flexible units from 500–1,500 sqm

• Rates: ~R50/sqm

• Suits light industrial or service trades

Valwick Park

• Large Park with a big variety of sizes and extremely high power. 200-5000sqm and 2000 amps +

• Ideal for contractors, suppliers, and small/large-scale assembly, and manufacturers. 

Point Park

• Mid-size units with ample power and neat office fit-outs

• Strong appeal for food packaging and clean-use industries

There’s also a steady release of land parcels from 3,000–6,000 sqm for custom builds. Developers are open to turnkey agreements for long-term tenants.

Incentives & Lease Options

Most new builds come with flexible lease terms—typically 3 to 5 years. Longer commitments may unlock tenant installation allowances or rental discounts.

Some parks offer:

• Fit-out contributions (usually R300–R500/sqm)

• Rent-free periods (1–3 months depending on lease length)

• Escalations capped at 7–8% annually

• First-option rights on adjacent space for growing tenants

Municipal incentives have been mooted but vary by node. Worth checking in with brokers on what's live at the time of your deal.

Lifestyle & Quality of Life

Let’s be honest—this isn’t a lifestyle node. Your team probably isn’t moving to Hammarsdale for the scenery. But there are solid basics: decent housing in nearby townships, improving public health services, and easy access to regional retail in Hillcrest or Pietermaritzburg.

Security in the parks is tight. Most parks are access-controlled with patrols, and the SAPS presence in the industrial belt has been beefed up since 2021. Crime has dropped, especially in fenced parks with dedicated guards.

Staff enjoy lower commuting costs if they’re from nearby areas. And the growing job pool in logistics and light manufacturing is a plus for local employment.

Final Thoughts & Broker Summary

Hammarsdale isn’t the fanciest node—but it’s functional, well-priced, and strategically located. For warehousing, logistics, and clean manufacturing, it makes a strong case. Especially if you want Durban port access without Durban costs.

If you’re looking at units in the 1,000–6,000 sqm range, the deals here are often quicker to close and better priced than in Pinetown or Riverhorse. And with more space coming online, it’s easier to negotiate.

We’re seeing consistent demand, solid infrastructure, and an improving support network. Not perfect, but practical. That’s the Hammarsdale offer in a nutshell.