Plan for 1000 new homes on land surrounding Glenside hospital

UP TO 1000 homes will be built on the vacant land surrounding the Glenside hospital to turn the barren site into the Bowden of the east. What do you think — take our poll

UP TO 1000 homes will be built on the vacant land surrounding the Glenside hospital to turn the barren site into the Bowden of the east.

The State Government will partner with the private sector to transform the 17.1 hectare site within 2km of the city into a “diverse, thriving community”.

Planning Minister John Rau said the site could accommodate between 800 and 1000

homes but that the final number would be determined through a master planning process which would include input from the community.

He said housing would be medium to high density, which was normally defined as townhouses and low-rise apartments to multi-storey apartment buildings.

“This new release of land at Glenside is exactly the sort of development opportunity we are looking for, making use of land close to the city rather than increasing fringe development,” he said.

“It is envisioned the Glenside development will be a mixed-use site with opportunity for some commercial development like cafes, small offices and shops, as well as residential land.

“We estimate Glenside will have 800 to 1000 homes whereas Bowden will have more than 2400 homes in a slightly smaller space.

“But both are based around the concept of urban villages with high quality design, environmentally friendly and sustainable homes.”

The release of the land follows Mr Rau’s comments last month that the Government had no plans to rezone any more land on the suburban fringe for housing estates and would instead focus on regenerating existing suburbs.

Mr Rau said the Glenside development would have to balance the site’s heritage — such as

The Elms and former laundry that need to be retained — and environment, as well as its inner metropolitan location.

Renewal SA, which controls government property, plans to seek a private sector partner for the redevelopment through an expression of interest process early next year.

There will be an Open Day in February where the community can have the opportunity to explore the site and provide input into the plans.

Once a private sector partner has been chosen, Renewal SA and the development partner would

develop a master plan for the site and provide further opportunities for community input.

Site works would likely begin in 2016 and the full redevelopment would be delivered over a number of years.