Apartments proposed for Geelong West Headstart Early Learning Centre site
An application to build apartments above a childcare centre in Geelong West have been lodged with council.
Geelong
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A multimillion-dollar plan to build apartments above an existing childcare centre in Geelong West has been lodged to council.
The two-storey Church St building currently contains Headstart Early Learning Centre on the ground floor while the All 4 Kids Play Centre is located on level two.
The application seeks approval to construct a third storey and ultimately 23 apartments across levels two and three.
Andrew Clarke of Clarke Planning is behind the application and he said the changes being sought were an amendment to the existing permit.
This would ensure one single permit governs all use and development matters at the site, he said.
Mr Clarke said the childcare centre would remain, while the play centre would close and be converted to apartments.
The first floor would have 12 units and the second floor 11 units, all of which would comprise either one or two bedrooms.
“The reason to pursue this permit application is because council themselves have nominated this as an area where they want to see housing growth to a height of three stories,” Mr Clarke said.
“Established inner parts of Geelong need more housing and this site is well located to parks, schools, employment, city centre and public transport and situated along a main road.
“Not only is more housing needed in such parts of Geelong, but a diversity of housing, for example, detached housing, townhouses, villas, aged care, apartments, to cater for a wide range of household types, sizes and needs.
“Apartments are obviously more affordable being smaller in size and cater for smaller household sizes not just ‘traditional families’.”
The planning process is still in the early stages, but it’ estimated that a best-case scenario would see tenants move in within two years.
satria.dyer-darmawan@news.com.au
Originally published as Apartments proposed for Geelong West Headstart Early Learning Centre site
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