Keyton seeks to turn approved aged care facility into retirement village

Eight years after receiving the green light for an aged care home, Keyton’s plans for its Mt Martha site are taking a different direction.

In October 2018, Lendlease Primelife, Lendlease’s retirement village arm, in partnership with Catholic Healthcare, were given approval to build a two-storey, 180-bedroom aged care home at their village in Victoria.

Mornington Peninsula Shire Council approved a two-year extension on the approval in October 2025, which is due to expire in October 2027.

Keyton, which became the new brand for Lendlease’s former retirement living business in June 2023, has now updated the plans from an aged care facility development to a retirement village.

The amendment is to replace the previously approved building with 32 single-storey villas with a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations. If approved, it will extend Keyton’s existing Martha’s Point Retirement Village.

The application, which had been on exhibition, shows one building would include a cinema, communal lounge, multipurpose activity space, and an outdoor area with a barbeque. A landscaped linear park incorporating a pedestrian route and dog run would link the site to the Birdrock Beach foreshore.

Keyton, which is owned by Aware Super (49.9%) Lendlease (25.1%) and Dutch pension fund APG Asset Management (25%), says the “amendment aligns with Keyton’s strategic direction and responds to the increasing demand for retirement living options, proposing instead to extend the existing Martha’s Point Retirement Village.”

“The proposal will result in no unreasonable amenity impacts having regard to overshadowing or overlooking and visual bulk, or as a result of car parking, traffic or waste management.”