UPA’s $178M seniors housing State Significant Development approved

The United Protestant Association of NSW has received approval for its largest-ever development at its existing site in Wahroonga, 18km northwest of Sydney’s CBD.

The operator, which has 22 retirement villages (583 residents), 17 residential aged care homes (787 beds) and provides home care services for 2,300 people, has been given State Significant Development approval to:

• Comprehensively redevelop the site, beginning with the demolition of existing buildings and structures. Initial works include site preparation, excavation, and the removal of select trees to make way for new construction.
• Construct 132 Independent Living Units spread across six newly constructed buildings, along with ancillary facilities to support the residents' needs.
• Additionally, construct a new kitchen, laundry, and dining/lounge areas, alongside minor modifications to the existing residential aged care facility Rosetta Park.
• Build two basement car parks to accommodate residents and visitors. To enhance the aesthetics and environmental quality of the site, extensive landscaping and new tree planting will be undertaken throughout the development.

The six buildings will range in size from:

• Building 1: 19.76m (six storeys)

• Building 2: 21.1 m (seven storeys)

• Building 3: 21.2 m (six storeys)

• Building 4: 17.3 m (five storeys)

• Building 5: 21.2 m (six storeys)

• Building 6: 20.82 m (seven storeys).

The 132 new ILUs will be added to the 35 existing ILUs and 56 aged care beds (total of 167 ILUs and 56 beds).

“The NSW Government has a target of 377,000 well-located homes by 2029. This policy supports the National Housing Accord that provides a national target of delivering 1.2 million new, well-located homes by 2029,” the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure stated in its Assesment Report.

“To support the delivery of seniors housing across NSW, in November 2021 an SSD pathway was introduced for large scale seniors housing developments that include RCFs. This SSD application has been submitted pursuant to these initiatives that aim to support the delivery of well-located and accessible housing.

“The proposal involves the renewal of an existing seniors housing facility at UPA Wahroonga that is no longer fit for purpose through delivery of a more contemporary and well-designed RCF and ILUs.”