Leroy Merlin to invest R220 million in new store in Cornubia, boosting eThekwini's economy
The sod turning ceremony for Leroy Merlin's first KwaZulu-Natal store at Cornubia on Thursday.
Image: eThekwini Municipality
In another investment boost for the eThekwini Municipality, home-improvement retailer Leroy Merlin will be constructing a R220 million new-build store in Cornubia, north of the Durban city centre.
In a statement on the sod turning ceremony which took place on Thursday, the municipality said the development, which is the retailer's first store outside of Gauteng, signals renewed investor confidence in eThekwini and the province.
The 10 000 m² retail facility, which is set to open in November 2026, is expected to create 2 500 construction jobs and 1 200 permanent jobs.
“This flagship in Cornubia is the first step in a broader plan for future development and expansion in KwaZulu-Natal,” said Patrycja Pelowska, Senior Project Manager for Leroy Merlin.
He added: “The store will not only create local employment opportunities but will also bring accessible, innovative home-improvement solutions closer to the communities of KZN.”
Leroy Merlin’s parent company, Adeo Group, is the third-largest home-improvement group globally.
The development is being delivered in partnership with eThekwini Municipality and local property investment company Fundamentum Property Group.
EThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba said: “We are proud to welcome Leroy Merlin to our City through this significant strategic investment. The commencement of construction on their new 10 000 m² retail facility will not only transform this area into a vibrant construction site but will also create much-needed job opportunities for the local community.”
Mayor Xaba added that the sod-turning marks the beginning of eight planned development phases under the full ownership of Cornubia Business Park (Pty) Ltd.
“This sod-turning is more than the start of construction. It is the rebirth of the Cornubia Town Centre Precinct, a once-dormant area that will soon flourish into a vibrant, modern urban centre. It symbolises confidence in the future of eThekwini’s economy,” Mayor Xaba said.
Councillor Thembo Ntuli, chair of the Economic Development and Planning Committee, said: “This development will inject R300 million in initial private capital, with bulk earthworks already underway.
“It is expected to create 2 500 construction jobs and 1 200 permanent jobs within Ward 102, stimulate new local logistics, supply chain and commercial activity in the precinct, and anchor future investments expected to exceed R3 billion, generating an estimated R120 million in municipal rates revenue annually.”
“Bringing an international brand of this calibre to Durban underscores our commitment to unlocking new opportunities for the city and its people,” said Carlos Correia, CEO of Fundamentum.
“As a large-format, international retailer with a global footprint, Leroy Merlin’s entry sends a strong positive signal about Durban and the region’s competitiveness, the strength of its consumer base, and the attractiveness of its long-term development pipeline.”