Developer hits pause on proposed Highworth $70m village

Developers of a controversial proposed retirement village have pressed pause on their bid after council raised a number of concerns with the project.

Andrew and Jo Pitcher are behind plans for a $70 million retirement village at Savilles Rd in Highworth.

Developers of a controversial proposed retirement village near Nambour have pressed pause on their bid after Sunshine Coast Council raised a number of concerns with the project.

Andrew and Jo Pitcher of Highgate Developments lodged a development application last year for a 275-home retirement village on Savilles Road at Highworth.

The village, named Grove Retirement, has attracted strong opposition from a group of locals who have retained a prominent Coast lawyer in a bid to fight the proposal.

Town planners emailed the council on behalf of the Pitchers on April 20 to "stop the clock" for 15 business days to allow time for them to respond to a request from the council for more information.

It came after the council sent a request on April 6 outlining more than 20 concerns requiring clarification; including communal open space, stormwater management, pedestrian access, vegetation offsets and dwelling designs.

The letter from the council's principal development planner notes the "extent of site works required to provide for the development is not considered to comprise a sensitive response to the natural topography, reflect the character of the local area".

"The proposed development and associated extent of site works is considered to be an engineered outcome designed to facilitate a residential density that is not suited to the environmental constraints of the site," the letter states.

"(It) does not provide for a responsive built form outcome, requires substantial modification of the natural topography and will result in the existing natural areas of the site being separated from the constructed areas by retaining walls and inaccessible batters."

It's understood the project would take about five years to construct and would feature two and three bedroom homes and community facilities including function rooms, pools, tennis courts, a bowls green and RV and caravan parking.

Long-time Highworth resident Peter Bradford has made a submission against the development.

He says council's letter echoes most of the concerns expressed by residents.

"I feel encouraged by this as it complements my view that the proposal was a gross overdevelopment of that site," he said.

"Most of the local residents I've spoken to accept that given the site is zoned low density residential, development in some form will occur.

"I think the site presents an exciting opportunity for a breakthrough high quality retirement or other residential land-use, akin to an eco village, which is sympathetic to and enhances the site and Nambour."

Sunshine Coast Environment Council liaison Narelle McCarthy said the letter from the council was a "thorough and well-considered request".

"(It) reflects a number of the Sunshine Coast Environment Council's concerns relating to an overdevelopment of the site," she said.

The stop will remain in place until mid-next month.

Developer Andrew Pitcher did not respond to a request for comment.

Originally published as Developer hits pause on proposed Highworth $70m village