Telfair becomes Africa’s first LEED-ND certified neighbourhood

ENL Group celebrated a landmark achievement as Telfair, the central neighbourhood of Moka Smart City, was officially certified under the LEED for Neighbourhood Development (LEED-ND) framework—becoming the first neighbourhood in Africa to receive this global distinction. The official certificate handover ceremony took place at Thirsty Bistro in Telfair, where Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan, Managing Director of the U.S. Green Building Council for the region, presented the certificate to Johan Pilot, CEO of ENL Property. The event was attended by Rajesh Bhagwan, Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, Govinden Venkatasami, Member of Parliament for the constituency, and Heerooa Ramnarain, Chairman of the Moka District Council.

A global standard for local impact

Awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a global leader in sustainable development standards, LEED for Neighbourhood Development is one of the most rigorous international certifications for urban environments. It assesses not just buildings, but entire neighbourhoods, across three foundational pillars: sustainable urban planning, environmental stewardship, and quality of life. Moka embarked on the certification process with the support of international experts, who assessed Telfair against more than 100 criteria, including accessibility, high-quality public spaces, mixed-use development, environmental responsibility, and sustainable resource management.

This milestone not only validates a model ENL has built over time but it also affirms that Mauritius has the capacity to lead in sustainable, inclusive territorial development.

Gilbert Espitalier-Noël, Group CEO of ENL Group, stated during the official ceremony at Telfair that:

It is not just a milestone for ENL or for Moka. It is a signal of what Mauritius can achieve through vision, structure, and collaboration

Building with vision: ENL’s long-term approach to urban development

ENL began shaping Moka nearly two decades ago—not as a real estate project, but as a cohesive urban ecosystem. With the introduction of the Smart City Scheme in 2017, the Group was able to accelerate a strategy built on long-term planning, inclusive growth, and public-private alignment.

Telfair is the result of that vision. Today, it stands as a living example of how to build places that are vibrant, resilient and human-centred—designed to benefit not only investors or residents but the wider society.

 

Tangible impact at a national scale

The LEED-ND certification recognises the tangible national impact of ENL’s integrated development model.

Over the past 15 years, ENL Foundation has positively impacted more than 10,000 people across Telfair Village, Ste Catherine, Alma, and Vuillemin.

In Moka, this human-centric and sustainable approach has created over 13,000 jobs and supported 2,000 active businesses, contributing to a diverse and future-ready economy. The city is also home to a thriving education ecosystem, with 14,000 students enrolled across 28 institutions.

More than 50% of Moka’s footprint is dedicated to non-residential uses, including healthcare, education, mobility, and civic infrastructure – underscoring its balanced urban planning.

In 2024 alone, ENL planted 13,000 endemic and indigenous trees, reinforcing its commitment to biodiversity. The 6 km La Promenade linear park connects neighbourhoods and provides accessible, green public space for all.

These outcomes reflect ENL’s belief that urban development should create lasting value—social, environmental, and economic—at a national scale.

This approach is not limited to Moka. In Savannah and Bel Ombre, ENL is applying the same integrated development approach. These projects are more than real estate. From land access to biodiversity stewardship, they translate vision and values into action. Bel Ombre’s status as a UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserve and a Green Village reflects this commitment to responsible, locally anchored development.

 

An achievement built together

ENL Group extends its sincere appreciation to the ENL Property team, whose leadership and dedication were instrumental in achieving this milestone, as well as to the technical consultants and partners who contributed to every stage of the process. This achievement reflects what becomes possible when diverse expertise is united by a shared purpose and long-term vision.

This milestone fully aligns with ENL Group’s long-term strategy to structure land with purpose, create shared national value, and help shape the future of Mauritius through responsible, inclusive and forward-looking development.

“Because what we build matters. But how and why we build matters even more,” Gilbert Espitalier-Noël, Group CEO of ENL Group.