Mitchells Plain is a suburb about 32 km (20 mi) from the city of Cape Town. It is one of South Africa's largest suburbs. It is located on the Cape Flats on the False Bay coast between Muizenberg and Khayelitsha. Mitchells Plain was created by the apartheid government in the early 1970s as a Coloured township for middle-income families. The township was laid out in terms of the neighbourhood unit concept with large open spaces, localised public facilities and wide arterial routes. Various forms of housing were provided including, freestanding, semi-detached and duplex housing. However, by the late 80's and 90's, major areas of Mitchells Plain deteriorated into urban ghettos.