829 New Homes Approved Off River Road in Winnabow: What It Means for You

The short version: The Brunswick County Planning Board has approved South Cape, a planned community of 519 single-family homes and 310 townhomes off River Road (N.C. 133) in Winnabow, right next to Mallory Creek and Brunswick Forest. It's the latest sign of how fast northern Brunswick County is growing. It also raises real questions about River Road traffic and flood risk that every buyer and seller in the Leland area should understand.

What Was Approved

Port City Daily reports that the planning board approved South Cape unanimously at its October 12 meeting. The plan covers about 348 acres, with roughly half of the land set aside as open space. The site sits along River Road between Leland and Southport, bordering two of the area's best-known communities, Mallory Creek and Brunswick Forest.

Two issues drew most of the debate:

  • Road connections. The traffic study projects about 7,291 vehicle trips on a typical weekday once the community is built out. Its main entrance will be on River Road. The connections on the west side into Brunswick Forest are planned as gated, emergency-only access. Town of Leland officials and county planning staff asked for an open connection to spread traffic toward U.S. 17, but the board did not require it.
  • Flooding. County staff noted that much of the property, including a large share of the planned townhomes, is in an AE flood zone (FEMA's high-risk designation). Homes in those areas are to be built above the 100-year flood elevation, and the developer will need to go through FEMA's map revision process because of the amount of fill planned.

Some context matters here. River Road is a two-lane road. It was closed for nearly a year after it collapsed during the 2024 storm known as Potential Tropical Cyclone 8. Also, under a new state law, final approval of major Brunswick County developments is shifting from the planning board to the county commissioners.

The Bigger Picture: Brunswick Is Where the Building Is

South Cape isn't happening in isolation. An analysis of U.S. Census Bureau permit data by TarSignal found that Brunswick County issued about 3,556 single-family building permits from January through August 2026. That is roughly three of every four new single-family homes permitted in the entire Wilmington metro area, and up about 11% from the same period last year. Our September market report showed the same momentum, with Brunswick's single-family closings and median price both up from a year ago.

What This Means If You're Buying

  • More new-construction choices are coming, but not overnight. No construction schedule has been announced, and communities this size typically build out in phases over several years.
  • Ask about the flood zone for every lot, not just the community. If a home is in a high-risk flood zone, a federally backed mortgage will require flood insurance. Get an elevation certificate and an insurance quote before your due diligence period ends.
  • Test the commute. If you'd be using River Road daily, drive it at rush hour. Construction traffic will add to it over the next few years.
  • Competition among builders can work in your favor. With this much new supply in northern Brunswick, ask about incentives like closing-cost help or rate buydowns.

What This Means If You're Selling

  • In Mallory Creek, Brunswick Forest and nearby neighborhoods, your future competition includes brand-new homes. Price with that in mind, and lean into what new construction can't offer: mature trees, finished amenities and no construction next door.
  • Know your own flood zone and insurance history so you can answer buyer questions quickly and confidently.
  • Timing may matter. Selling before large numbers of new homes come online could mean less direct competition. We can walk through what that looks like for your home.

What This Means for Homeowners

Expect more traffic on River Road over time, and keep an eye on future road connections and improvements. With final approval authority moving to the Brunswick County Commissioners, public hearings will be the place to weigh in on future developments near you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the South Cape development?
Off River Road (N.C. 133) in Winnabow, Brunswick County, between Leland and Southport, bordering Mallory Creek and Brunswick Forest.

How many homes will South Cape have?
The approved plan calls for 519 single-family homes and 310 townhomes, 829 in total, on about 348 acres.

Is South Cape in a flood zone?
Part of the property, including many of the planned townhome sites, is in an AE (high-risk) flood zone. Homes there are to be built above the 100-year flood elevation.

When will homes in South Cape be available?
No construction or sales timeline has been announced yet.

Questions about how this affects your home? Call the Jennifer Bullock Team at RE/MAX Executive, 910-547-8535.

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