SA Rejects ACH’s 13-Storey Adelaide Retirement Proposal

South Australian retirement living specialist ACH Group has described a state panel’s refusal of a 13-storey village it had planned for a busy road less that 3km from Adelaide’s general post office as “particularly disappointing”.

Until last week, the $120-million village had been planned for a site on Fullarton Road at Rose Park, across from Adelaide’s central parklands.

Although the project received 221 objections, SA Department for Housing and Urban Development senior planner Phil Mabbs had recommended the project be approved subject to 16 conditions.

But South Australia’s State Commission Assessment Panel last week rejected the proposal, arguing it was too high for the otherwise low-density neighbourhood immediately behind the planned building from the busy arterial road.

The project proposed 60 apartments of two and three bedrooms to replace a war widows home on the corner of Hewitt Avenue, 2.7km from the Adelaide GPO.

In an email response to The Urban Developer, an ACH spokesperson said the organisation would “now take the time to reflect and consider options”.

▲ The ACH Group proposal was supported by a state government planner but refused by the decision-making assessment panel.

“This is a particularly disappointing outcome, as the proposed development was designed to address the growing demand for high quality housing options for older people at a time when this has never been more urgent in South Australia to relieve pressure on our housing and health care systems,” the spokesperson said.

To allow the project to proceed, five existing structures would have been demolished and the locally heritage-listed Vasey House partially demolished.

The redeveloped Vasey House and its surrounds would have included a new swimming pool, gym, library, restaurant, club lounge, office and billiards, yoga, consulting, sitting, activity, club and cinema rooms.

In a media statement before the panel made its decision, the Families of Veterans Guild said it was pleased ACH had committed to “maintaining the deep connection local war widows have with Rose Park by providing a new purpose-built meeting hall and office at no cost”.

The organisation said it was happy that Vasey House would have been restored as part of the development, honouring the legacy of the Guild’s founder Jessie Vasey CBE OBE.

ACH, a not-for-profit group, has 20 retirement or residential care villages across metropolitan Adelaide.