Uniting: Why building up beats building out

The Not For Profit operator has outlined the thinking behind its proposed vertical retirement living and aged care development on Sydney’s North Shore.

Uniting NSW.ACT Director of Property and Housing, Simon Furness, said the Uniting Gordon masterplan has built on the strengths of the original design and was in line with the NSW Government’s updated planning framework.

The Weekly SOURCE reported last month how Uniting's plan for its site in Gordon had changed and expanded on the initial design.

“The new planning controls provide us with the opportunity to deliver more homes for more local seniors on this site,” Simon said.

“By building up, rather than out, we can deliver those additional homes while maintaining the gardens and open space proposed for the heart of the site. Rather than having taller buildings across the entire site, the design places the tallest buildings at the rear, closest to the railway line, where they will have less impact on neighbouring properties.”

Uniting is proposing approximately 235 retirement living apartments, including 23 affordable homes, and 90 residential aged care places. The original plan was for 160 independent living apartments and a 90-place residential aged care home.

Simon says the new masterplan reflects the Housing Delivery Authority’s (HDA) housing initiatives and responds to new planning controls for the Gordon Town Centre, developed by the NSW Government in partnership with Ku-ring-gai Council.

The masterplan features a landscaped village green, with outdoor spaces to encompass more than 50% of the site and include sensory gardens, barbeque areas, and a rooftop garden.

The State Significant Development Application is expected to be formally submitted in late 2026.