TLC Plots Multigenerational Health Hub in Dandenong

A former carpark in Melbourne’s south-east would become the site of a multigenerational retail and health hub under plans before a Victorian council. 

Aged-care and retirement developer TLC Healthcare wants to repurpose the 2935sq m site at 3-7 Noble Street, Noble Park according to the scheme now before the Greater Dandenong Council. 

The site is 450m from TLC’s Noble Manor aged-care facility at 3-35 Frank Street, while another facility, TLC Noble Gardens, is to the south-east. There are 260 beds across the two.

The proposed multi-disciplinary development would “enhance the services available to the residential aged-care residents” and provide capacity for these facilities to expand in future, according to the planning report by Ratio Consultants.

There is a current planning permit for the site allowing a five-storey residential aged-care facility, however, the developer has changed gear, proposing an allied health centre with a 160-place childcare centre, a 2322sq m health club that includes a gym and pool and retail spaces. 

The development would be four storeys plus two basement levels for 136 carparking spaces.

▲ A rendering of the TLC Healthcare development proposed for Dandenong.

The 825sq m medical centre would be complemented by a food and drink premises of 317sq m with seating for 67 patrons. 

Designed by Baldasso Cortese Architects, the development with a 6000sq m total floor area would deliver 117 full-time jobs across its different uses, according to the planning report.

It would cost $35 million to build on the site, which is in the Noble Park Activity Centre that has been designated for intensification of commercial development. 

The proposed development “has strong architectural merit being designed by renowned architects Baldasso Cortese”, the planning report said. 

▲ The centre would complement TLC's existing aged-care facilities, according to the proposal.

It would be one of the first redeveloped sites at central Noble Park and “set a worthy benchmark for other development sites”, it said.

TLC has put forward a neighbourhood centre previously, planning a Banyule project with a 96-place childcare centre but this was knocked back by VCAT.

TLC has a $490-million pipeline of aged-care developments and developed one of Australia’s first multigenerational community-care precincts, at Mordialloc. That project was recognised with the 2024 Good Design Award for Social Impact.