The eThekwini Municipality has rejected an unsolicited bid to develop the Virginia Airport.

In a statement released on Thursday the Municipality said while its Bid Adjudication Committee had rejected this bid it would consider future bids based on merit.

In 2015 the city received a bid by Seaworld Investment Holdings recommending the Virginia Airport site be redeveloped into a mixed-use development. The project was expected to cost R6.1 billion with sourcing funding and the offering its services and expertise in the implementation of bulk infrastructure and services.

According to the proposal SeaWorld Investment Holdings would also develop a brand new airport, five times the size of Virginia Airport in Scottburgh.

Commenting on the rejection of the bid the municipality said: “The City remains committed to advancing infrastructure development to drive economic growth and attract investment.

“The Virginia Airport site belongs to eThekwini Municipality, and it is the Municipality that will decide through robust public engagements on what the site must be utilised for, as we have been doing with all developments in the City,” it concluded.