Proposed new changes for massive redevelopment at Highgate Park precinct at Fullarton

Changes have been made to the luxury redevelopment at the old Julia Farr Centre, including lavish apartments, townhouses and an aged-care facility. See the pictures.

Extra luxury homes and an innovative basement carpark have been added to a huge plan to transform the former Julia Farr Centre into a lavish retirement and aged-care precinct.

The site’s owners in February released plans for a huge redevelopment of the existing, 10-storey building in Fullarton – now known as Highgate Park – that would create a mix of 56 luxury residential apartments and 159 assisted living beds.

The multimillion-dollar masterplan on Fisher St also includes a large central garden, 16 two-storey townhouses and 72 retirement apartments in a new five-storey building.

Now, after feedback from locals and Unley Council, a ground-level carpark linking the existing building and the five-storey building has been dumped in favour of expanding the basement carpark.

A reference image for the landscaped concept for Highgate Park. Picture: Supplied

Artist impression of the proposed redevelopment to the 10-storey Julia Farr Centre, which is now known as Highgate Park. Picture: Brown Falconer

Artist impression for housing at the former Julia Farr Centre site in Fullarton, now known as Highgate Park. Picture: Supplied

A reference images of proposed two-storey homes at the Highgate Park living precinct. Picture: Clover

Landscape concept images of proposed retirement, aged-care and assisted living centre at Highgate Park. Picture: Clover

The revised plans allow room for six more ground-level retirement village apartments.

“It will reduce carparking under the proposed retirement village and … on-site car accommodation,” a spokesperson said.

“The changes were made primarily with the view to improve accessible carparking to the existing 10-level building while also reducing vehicle movements on a proposed driveway which neighbours the Living Choice Fullarton retirement village.”

One more regulated tree would be removed, marking 43 regulated trees cut down in total.

There would be a new laneway, new central park precinct, garden walk, a southern and central garden, and rooftop gardens and courtyards.

Landscape concept images of proposed retirement, aged-care and assisted living centre at Highgate Park. Picture: Clover

A reference image for one of the concepts for Highgate Park. Picture: Supplied

A render of the proposed five-storey that would offer 72 retirement apartments. Park. Picture: Supplied

Reference image of the proposed five-storey retirement building at Highgate Park, the former Julia Farr Centre in Fullarton. Picture: Clover

The site’s owners are proposing to partially demolish the ten-storey Highgate building to make room for supported living beds to be operated by Opal Healthcare, and the residential apartments, developed by Living Choice.

In February, a Living Choice spokeswoman said its vision was for the land to become “a high-end residential, retirement and aged-care precinct … sympathetic architecturally to the existing built form and surrounding community”.

Public consultation closes on August 15.

Last year, Living Choice and Opal Healthcare – national healthcare and retirement living operators – bought the 2.3ha former disability accommodation site from the state government for $42m.