Developer AV Jennings to transform 7.4ha site of the old Fort Largs Police Academy

LONG-awaited details of a $100m plan to transform land at the former Fort Largs police barracks into a 250-home development have been released — including who will develop the site.

An artist’s impression of what Fort Largs’ barracks would look like once the land around is developed.

• Space for up to 200 homes in Fort Largs land being released to the market at Taperoo
• Squatters take up residence at Fort Largs

LAND at historic Fort Largs will be transformed into a 250-home estate under a $100 million plan to bring “growth and investment” to the “precious piece of SA”.

The State Government on Friday revealed plans for developer AV Jennings to develop the 7.4ha site of the old Fort Largs Police Academy at Taperoo.

The site includes up to 6.3ha zoned for housing, while the remaining area comprises the State Heritage-listed fort, barracks and drill hall.

The company wants to build 250 two or three storey homes, expected to create 100 jobs per year over the project’s six-year construction period.

The National Trust’s SA branch will own the State Heritage-listed fort, working to restore it to its former glory and reopen it to the public.

The developer wants to use the 1939-built drill hall as a community building and turn the barracks, built in the same year, into apartments.

Infrastructure Minister Stephen Mullighan said the project would be a “major development for the western suburbs”.

Layout of the houses to be built at Fort Largs.

Mr Mullighan said the government would make a “significant contribution” to “extensively upgrading” the fort and returning it to its “former glory”.

“We will see some great housing opportunities, particularly as over the next five to 10 years, we are going to see an influx of workers for the shipbuilding and future submarine contracts,” Mr Mullighan said.

Port Adelaide MP Susan Close said the project was a “win-win for the western suburbs”.

“The historic Fort Largs Police Academy site is a precious piece of South Australian history,” Dr Close said.

AVJennings general manager SA Brian Virgo said the type of housing will be a “little bit different” to what is found in Largs.

Mr Virgo said he was working with Port Adelaide Enfield Council on a masterplan for the site.

“It will be more medium density rather than the traditional low-density,” Mr Virgo said.

“We did joke about putting a French patisserie there which we think would work very well.”

National Trust of South Australia chairman Professor Norman Etherington said the outcome had been “beyond our best dreams”.

“We couldn’t be happier,” Prof Etherington said.

“This is the last important defence site from the 19th century to be developed and made available for public use.

“Now we still developing a plan about how people can start appreciating the site.”

The State Government released the Fort Largs site, including the fort buildings, to the market last year through expressions of interest.

The sale of the land would recoup the cost of the new $53 million police academy built nearby.