For Developers

Partnering with Property Developers for Strategic Development

For property developers looking to bring vision to reality while managing regulatory risk and unlocking maximum value, the law firm of Stadler & Swart Attorneys Inc. offers a comprehensive, specialist legal service supporting every stage of the development lifecycle. With decades of experience in town‑planning, environmental and renewable‑energy law, led by André Swart.

We recognise that for a developer time is money. Approvals are often complex and uncertain, and value is often tied to how adeptly one navigates land‑use zoning, environmental authorisations and emerging regulatory regimes. Here’s how we help

Rooted in experience. Driven by innovation.

Land Use & Town Planning Expertise

Early engagement on rezoning, subdivisions, township establishment applications, or sectional‑title roll‑out can make or break a development outcome. Our specialists in town‑planning and land‑use law assist developers with:

Reviewing title deeds, existing restrictions, zoning and municipal spatial frameworks to identify development potential and pitfalls.

Preparing and guiding applications for rezoning, subdivisions, township establishment or other development rights under the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act 2013 (SPLUMA) and relevant municipal by‑laws.

Advising on municipal bulk‑services availability, appeals of adverse decisions, conditions attached to approvals, and strategic timing of applications to minimise delays.

Integrating town‑planning advice with wider project strategy so that planning decisions support overall commercial objectives rather than acting as after‑thought regulatory hoops.

For developers, this means you can move from “can we do this?” to “we have the right approval path, timeline and risk plan”, enabling you to engage more confidently with funders, municipalities, contractors and other stakeholders.

Decades of experience. A future of possibilities.

Environmental Law & Regulatory Compliance

No modern development can ignore the environmental dimension: whether it’s dealing with listed activities under the National Environmental Management Act (Act 107 of 1998) (NEMA), water‑use licences, biodiversity or waste and emissions issues. We assist developers to:

Identify what environmental approvals and authorisations are required for your site and development proposal, including Environmental Impact Assessments, compliance audits, listed‑activity obligations and monitoring requirements.

Prepare and submit applications for water‑use licences or general authorisations, environmental authorisations under NEMA and related statutes, and integrate these with the planning process to avoid bottlenecks.

Advise on ongoing compliance, condition‑monitoring and defense of appeals or objections by regulators or third parties.

Strategically coordinate environmental‑law work with planning and property‑law teams so that the environmental regulatory path aligns with the development schedule and finance requirements.

For property developers this means less risk of “surprise” environmental conditions later delaying construction or hand‑over, and better assurance that your regulatory structure supports rather than undermines your value chain.

Trusted since 1982. Ready for tomorrow.

Renewable Energy & Embedded‑Generation Advisory

In a property‑development context, the energy dimension is increasingly relevant: from incorporating solar‑PV on large residential or commercial developments, to embedded generation for estates, to full‑scale renewable‑energy projects tied into land development. Our renewable‑energy law offering includes:

Advising on the regulatory regime for embedded generation: for instance, changes such as the raised threshold for exemptions under the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) for embedded generation (up to 100 MW) and how this might benefit property developments.

Compliance audits on permits, authorisations and licences affecting renewable energy projects — including water‑use licences, mineral‑rights consents, heritage and biodiversity permits, atmospheric‑emission licences and more.

Structuring the integration of renewable‑energy components into developments: advising on project‑structuring, risk allocation, regulatory due‑diligence and alignment with construction/operation phases.

Helping developers exploit energy‑optimisation opportunities, for example estate‑wide solar or battery systems, which can form a value‑added hook for marketing, sustainability credentials or operational cost savings.

For you as a developer, this capability means you can embed “future‑proof” energy solutions into your project from Day 1, supporting funding, sustainability credentials, operations cost containment and value‑enhancement.

Experience you trust. Progress you can count on.

Why Developers Choose Stadler & Swart

At Stadler & Swart, we pride ourselves on:

Depth of specialist experience: André Swart has been practising as an attorney and conveyancer since 1992, holds an LLM specialising in planning and environmental law, and has decades of experience in property, planning, environmental and water law.

Proven track‑record in development matters: The firm’s history includes acting for prominent developers, large‑scale sectional‑title schemes and complex multi‑discipline projects.

Strategic, integrated advice: Not simply regulatory “check‑boxes” but advice targeted to your business objectives: unlocking development value, avoiding delays and aligning approvals, energy strategy and conveyancing.

Local knowledge and networks: Deep experience with municipalities, land‑use tribunals, environmental regulation and property transfers in the Garden Route, Cape Town and broader Western Cape.

  • Stadler & Swart Inc have been our development attorneys over many years, and they have demonstrated their expertise not only in respect of property, land use and environmental law, but also in providing high quality conveyancing services. They attend to all our conveyancing needs at Paradise Coast which includes the drafting of all contracts. If you need to keep any property lawyer close to you, this is the firm to associate with.

    G A van Rensburg, Managing Director, Nuvest (Pty) Ltd

  • Stadler & Swart Inc and specifically Mr. André Swart represents the Devonbosch Development, Stellenbosch. In our experience, Mr. Swart and his team have demonstrated their complete professionalism and high competency in understanding our case and guiding us strategically through all the legal options available to us. Mr. Swart and his colleagues have always ensured their availability for consultation and we have provided the best possible level of service.

    Pieter van der Westhuizen, Development Manager, Devonbosch, Stellenbosch

  • Stadler & Swart Inc have been the development attorneys for the Groenkloof Retirement Village Group since the Group's inception in 2003. They have provided expert assistance in obtaining the development rights and environmental approvals and have executed excellent conveyancing services for our developments. Stadler & Swart Inc's contribution to a development such as ours has proven invaluable and we proudly associate with them.

    Jan Pienaar, Managing Director, Groenkloof Retirement Village Group

  • Stadler & Swart Attorneys are a highly respected property law specialist firm and render land use and environmental law advice of an exceptional quality. I have worked with them over many years in respect of matters in the Garden Route as well as in the Stellenbosch area and they have consistently proven themselves experts in the fields they specialise in.

    Hendrik Kotze, Director, Werksmans Inc.

  • In my capacity as a practicing member of the Cape Bar, I have over the past 15 years been regularly briefed by Mr Andre Swart, as well as by certain of his associates, in a range of planning, environmental and general property matters. Many of these matters have been complex and demanding. I regard Mr Swart as being one of the most experienced and competent attorneys with whom I have worked over the past 35 years, in what are highly specialised fields in which he practices. I can think of few, if any, property lawyers better equipped than Mr Swart to render specialised legal services to property owners, property developers and others operating in this field, particularly where one is dealing with large developments requiring high planning, property and environmental expertise.

    Adv Sean Rosenberg SC

  • Stadler & Swart Attorneys Inc have advised our group of companies in a number of complex property matters. Their specialist knowledge and experience have been of huge value to us.

    Arno de Vos, Director, Cape Estates

  • I have worked with Andre Swart of Stadler & Swart Inc for several years and can attest professionalism, knowledge and experience, in particular in respect of matters relating to property, planning and environmental law.

    David Hertz, Chairman of Werksmans Attorneys

  • Stadler & Swart Attorneys Inc have advised our group of companies in a number of complex property matters. Their specialist knowledge and experience have been of huge value to us.

    Arno de Vos, Director, Cape Estates

  • Stadler & Swart Attorneys have advised the Atterbury Group of Companies over many years and their specialist knowledge and experience in the fields of property development and environmental law is invaluable. If you get involved in a complex or challenging property transaction, I would strongly recommend them.

    Louis van der Wast, Atterbury Group CEO