Hardi Aged Care lodge $33m plans to replace Seven Hills Nursing Home

Third time could be the charm for a Sydney aged care provider which plans to renovate its “substandard” aged-care home have been revealed, despite previously being knocked back.

Hardi Aged Care submitted plans to Blacktown City Council in mid-2022 to erect a two-storey, 120-room residential care facility. Picture: Blacktown City Council

An aged care provider that labelled its current western Sydney site as “substandard” has unveiled plans for a $33 million makeover, despite the project having twice been scuttled after review by a city planning panel.

Hardi Aged Care submitted plans to Blacktown Council in mid-2022 to erect a two-storey, 120-room residential care facility which would replace the ageing, “hostel-style” Seven Hills Nursing Home, one of six operated by the provider across Sydney.

Planning documents reveal the new building is designed to cater to high-care and dementia care residents with auxiliary services designed to replace the “substandard” offerings of the current home.

A further eight adjoining residential properties, owned by Hardi Aged Care, will be levelled to make way for the new aged care facility.

The project comes after an earlier application by Hardi Aged Care was refused by the Sydney Central City Planning Panel.

The existing Hardi Aged Care in Seven Hills features "hostel-style" accommodation. Picture: Hardi Aged Care

The application was refused in September 2020 because of “insufficient landscaping” and exceeding the amount of permitted floor space, documents submitted to Blacktown Council reveal. The project was again submitted in September 2021 before being withdrawn.

“At an April 2021 briefing, the Sydney Central City Planning Panel raised concern relating to compliance with the landscaped area requirement that would result in uncertainty around the exact date of for delivery of the project’s second stage,” documents state.

Auxiliary services in the new building are designed to replace the “substandard” offerings of the old home, which included communal bathrooms and amenities Picture: Blacktown City Council

“There were also issues relating to character and amenity within the development.”

In March 2022, Hardi Aged Care met with Blacktown Council which was “largely supportive”, the developer said.

The new plans include a landscaped area taking up more than 40 per cent of the lot.

Nonetheless, the council raised concerns about parking, disabled access, and access to public transport options.

In response, Hardi Aged Care reported the project had been “misunderstood”.

“The facility will not include individual dwellings,” the report states. “The majority of residents will have dementia to varying degrees and do not move outside for public transport.”

The council also raised concerns about where existing residents will be housed until the new site is erected.

Plans for the new Seven Hills Aged Care home are on exhibition with Blacktown Council.