A focus of the City of Cape Town's integrated District Spatial Development Frameworks and Environmental Management Framework (DSDF-EMF, 2023) Implementation Plan is to investigate mechanisms to incentivise development and/or streamline the development application processes in spatially targeted areas, i.e. Development Focus Areas and Urban Support Focus Areas (DFAs and USFAs, respectively). 

In terms of Section 34 and Section 38 of the NHRA: 

• Any person who wants to alter or demolish a structure older than 60 years must apply to HWC for a permit (Section 34) to do so. 
• Any person planning to develop a property or properties that trigger a Heritage Impact Assessment process (Section 38) must complete a notification of intent to develop, and depending on the outcome of the notification, may be required to undertake relevant heritage specialist studies to assess potential negative impacts on heritage. 

The NHRA also makes provision for exemptions from the requirements of Section 34 and 38 within a defined geographical area. If approved, no further heritage permissions in terms of S34 and S38 are required in the defined geographical area(s) following the publication of a notice in the Provincial Gazette. The City of Cape Town's Urban Planning and Design Department in collaboration with the Environmental and Heritage Management Department and appointed heritage specialist team has undertaken a NHRA exemption areas investigation. 

Depending on the outcome of the investigation, an application will be submitted to HWC to have a number of conservation worthy heritage resources placed on the Heritage Register. 
The application includes exemption from the requirements of S34 and S38 in defined geographical areas for selected areas located in the Voortrekker Road Corridor, as well as the following DFAs: 

• Atlantis 
• Airport Industria
• Flamingo 
• Kuils River 
• Mitchells Plain 
• Ottery/Lansdowne