Keyton lodges SSDA for Wollongong University senior living precinct

Keylan Consulting, on behalf of retirement village operator Keyton and the University of Wollongong, has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) seeking changes to the previously approved Concept Development Application for the university’s Health and Wellbeing Precinct.

In February 2018, Lendlease was named as the University of Wollongong’s partner for the 7.5-hectare precinct at the Innovation Campus. The original concept included 199 independent retirement units, a 108-bed aged care facility, a childcare centre and retail shops.

Since then, Lendlease’s retirement living division has rebranded as Keyton and, together with the university, is now proposing a revised scheme that would relocate the proposed childcare centre and residential aged care facility and increase the number of aged care beds to 180.

A Concept Development Application was approved by the Southern Regional Planning Panel on 6 May 2024. That approval set maximum building envelopes, a master plan, urban design guidelines and land uses including seniors housing (residential aged care and self-contained dwellings), centre-based childcare, indoor recreation, food and drink premises, neighbourhood shops, business premises, community facilities and recreation areas.

The new SSDA seeks consent for:

• Construction of eight- and nine-storey independent living buildings comprising 236 apartments;
• An integrated wellness centre and communal facilities within the podium levels of the eight-storey building, plus dedicated teaching, learning and research spaces within the podiums of both buildings;
• Construction of a seven-storey co-located residential care facility and childcare centre containing 180 care beds, 60 childcare places, and further dedicated teaching, learning and research spaces.