Hornsby: Aged care ‘vertical village’ planned at prominent town centre site

A vertical aged care village would transform the Hornsby town centre as part of a multimillion dollar 12 storey development proposal. See what’s planned:

A high-rise aged care home could soon transform the Hornsby town centre under plans developers say would help address the region’s ageing population.

A block of land that has stood vacant opposite Westfield Hornsby for more than two years would be turned into a 12 storey “Australia Aged Care Centre” as part of a $27 million development proposal.

The development would include ground floor retail tenancies such as dentists, optometrists and fitness facilities.

A concept plan of the development.

A concept plan of what the building could look like.

On top of this would be a nine level residential aged care facility with 84 beds, and a further residential apartment on the top storey.

It would also come complete with a high-care dementia unit, employing about 35 staff, as well as a landscaped dementia garden at the podium level.

Plans described the development as “a vertical village for ageing” that would meet rising demand for aged care and the region’s ageing population.

A concept plan of the ground floor.

The building would be located at 228-234 Pacific Hwy.

“Given that there is going to be a significant increase in the elderly population, there will be a demand for aged care facilities in the precinct,” the plans stated.

“As health care and social assistance are one of the most popular sectors, with nurses being one of the key workers identified, the proposed development will also provide employment opportunities for many locals.”

Plans show the building would stand 41.2m – a breach of the current 23.5m height limit.

The development would stand opposite Westfield Hornsby.

The current site is vacant and fenced off.

Developer TBG Senior Living Services said the building would create a prominent building marker for the town centre.

“The locality surrounding the site is undergoing a transition towards a more intensified precinct, with the newer development characterised by multistorey mixed-use buildings,” it said in its plans.

“The building form (has been) specifically designed to emphasise the corner as an important built form marker for the southern gateway to the Hornsby town centre.”

Plans have been lodged to Hornsby Council.

The building would stand 12 storeys tall.

Plans for the care facility show it would have features such as kitchen, laundry, meeting rooms, reception, lounge and dining areas, nurses stations, cleaning store rooms and amenities.

There would be three levels of basement carparking with 55 spaces.

Hornsby Mayor Philip Ruddock said the proposal would have to be weighed up against an ongoing council planning strategy that is aiming to cater for increased population in the CBD.

“We are very conscious that Hornsby has population targets that have to be met and we’ve been undertaking significant planning for that,” he said.

“The principal issue with significant high rise will be to ensure it’s in a way that has adequate roads and transport. It’s not going to be easy.”

Council on The Ageing chief executive Ian Yates said was not aware of any other high-rise aged care homes in Sydney that exceed 10 storeys but does not expect it to become a trend within the sector.

“Going into the future I think we’ll see a whole different variety of options available which will range from larger apartment type buildings to smaller clustered style aged care,” he said.

“I think many older people in a care setting like to have things like a garden which they’re not going to have in a twelve storey building. For that reason I wouldn’t see it as a major trend that will emerge.”

The proposal is currently under assessment by Hornsby Council.