Building to Class 9C costs around $500 extra per square metre – or up to 10% of total construction. For operators, that margin is increasingly looking like money well spent.

It costs more to build to Class 9C standards – but not much more. Operators estimate about $500 per square metre, or roughly 6-10% of total construction costs. For that relatively small outlay, you gain a product that is safer, more flexible, and significantly more valuable.

That is why a growing number of sector leaders say 9C is no longer optional. It is becoming the baseline for retirement villages that want to survive in a care-driven market.

Why 9C matters

Class 9C is the National