Plans for $26m independent living housing development at 16 Prince St, Coffs Harbour

A towering $26 million housing complex aimed at seniors and independent living could soon spring up in a rapidly growing section of Coffs Harbour. Take a look at the plans.

Plans have been lodged with City of Coffs Harbour. Picture: Supplied

Developers have pitched a $26 million seniors and independent living housing complex standing seven storeys tall in a booming part of Coffs Harbour.

Town planner with the project Williams Planning and Property Services has put forward a proposal for 25 independent living units at 16 Prince St, Coffs Harbour.

The development would be about 1.8 kilometres northeast of the CBD and 300 metres from Park Beach.

What it could look like – a northwest view of the proposed development. Picture: Supplied

The proposal comes on the back of a wave of new developments approved for the Coffs Coast recently, with real estate forecasts indicating growing demand.

Last month, a $33 million apartment building with 80 units was proposed to replace another Coffs motel — the Ocean Park Motel – at 69-73 Ocean Pde, just opposite Park Beach and less than 400m from 16 Prince St.

The Wavelength, a recent Park Beach apartment development which broke sales records, also sits on Ocean Pde and just down the road is The Shoreline at Park Beach, a $150m retirement village which opened last year.

The City of Coffs Harbour has identified a need for urban renewal in the downtown precinct and a raft of development is proceeding.

The planned housing. Picture: Supplied

In the new housing proposal, Williams Planning said the region was “undergoing transition” and there was a need for “lower density forms of residential accommodation and tourist and visitor accommodation”.

It’s stated in planning documents “larger residential flat buildings“ are increasingly sought after.

If approved, the seven-storey building would take the place of the former Dolphin Sands Holiday Houses single-storey tourist accommodation.

An artist impression. Picture: Supplied

Units would be designed to encourage “ageing in place” and cater for seniors who need

“minimal living assistance” day-to-day, the plans state.

“(The) apartments could also accommodate people with a disability,” it’s added.

Each apartment would contain two bedrooms, as well as a covered balcony or terrace.

The site would include 32 parking spaces and a communal gym, pool and terraces with seating on the first floor.

Residents have until March 19 to lodge submissions about the proposal on the Coffs Harbour council website.