913 retirement dwellings declared State Significant Development
- Major proposal: 913-home Berry Park project declared State Significant
- Planning changes: Rezoning to permit seniors housing sought
- Housing response: Proposal cites NSW housing crisis and Accord targets
- Expansion: Development adjoins two existing retirement villages
A major seniors’ housing development has moved into the NSW Government’s State Significant Development planning pathway.
The NSW Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) has recommended the proposed development by Gordon Eacott and Hilton Grugeon AM’s private venture be declared a State Significant Development (SSD).
Berry Park Retirement Village’s site in Maitland, about 132km north of Sydney, featues two seniors living villages at its eastern and western boundaries.
On the western side is Berry Park Village which contains 162 dwellings and community facilities. Under development in stages on the eastern boundary is Berry Park Gatehouse, which has 95 dwellings and its own community facilities.
The proposal, if approved, is for up to 913 new dwellings including approximately 19 affordable housing dwellings.
A Scoping Report prepared by Berry Park Retirement Village Pty Ltd says: “The project is a direct response to the current housing crisis and the State’s commitments to the National Housing Accord 2022, which highlights that the need to deliver housing is urgent.”
Hilton is Chairman of Hunter Land, while Gordon is a veteran developer who built and co-owned Horizons Village in Dubbo, Central West NSW, which was sold to RSL LifeCare.
The proposal will be facilitated by a concurrent amendment to the applicable Environmental Planning Instrument (EPI), Maitland Local Environmental Plan 2011 (MLEP 2011) to permit seniors housing as an additional permissible use.
