State Govt opens door to taller retirement living projects

The South Australian Government, which promised several ageing initiatives in the March State election, has made a significant planning change to aid sorely-needed development.

The State Planning Commission has introduced a Significant Retirement Facility and Supported Accommodation Sites Overlay through its Accommodation Diversity Code Amendment.

According to the announcement, retirement living and aged care operators will be able to pursue taller developments on large suburban sites under new planning rules designed to increase housing choice for the state’s ageing population.

The overlay will apply across most suburban residential zones and is intended to make it easier for operators to redevelop or expand existing retirement villages and aged care homes, many of which are located on large sites with capacity for additional development.

Under the new planning controls, sites between 6,500sqm and one hectare will be able to accommodate buildings of up to four storeys, while sites larger than one hectare will be eligible for developments of up to six storeys.

The Government said the changes would create new opportunities for operators to redevelop ageing facilities, add independent living apartments or increase residential aged care capacity without acquiring additional land.

Any development that exceeds existing height limits must remain within prescribed building envelopes designed to minimise overshadowing and visual impacts on neighbouring properties.

The amendment also allows compatible commercial uses within retirement living and aged care developments, including cafés and allied health consulting rooms. Individual commercial tenancies will be limited to 500sqm, with non-residential uses capped at 10% of a development’s total floor area.

Developments taller than four storeys or 15 metres will be subject to community notification.

The Government estimates the amendment will affect almost half of South Australia’s existing retirement living and supported accommodation sites.

Larger developments will also follow a new assessment pathway, with retirement living and supported accommodation proposals exceeding four storeys to be determined by the State Commission Assessment Panel rather than individual councils.

The Government said the statewide assessment pathway would provide more consistent decision-making across council boundaries and greater certainty for project proponents.

The Weekly SOURCE reported in September last year that retirement living co-located with aged care facilities have also been formally recognised as essential infrastructure under South Australia’s planning legislation.

The reforms will initially exclude Established Neighbourhood, Hills Neighbourhood, Character Area and Historic Area zones. The Government will consult with councils before determining whether suitable sites in those areas should be brought into a second stage of the overlay.