Living Choice propose 95-home seniors village on Galston greenfield site

Yet another seniors housing development has been submitted for the Hills rural fringes — with retirement centre manager Living Choice calling for NSW Government approval for a seniors living development in Galston.

A seniors living development by Living Choice has been earmarked for Galston Rd, Galston.

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Yet another seniors housing development has been submitted for our rural fringes — with retirement centre manager Living Choice calling for NSW Government approval for a seniors living development in Galston.

First earmarked for the site in February 2018, Living Choice applied for a site compatibility certificate from the NSW Government, which would enable the developer to submit a development application for the construction of a 95-dwelling centre at 328 Galston Rd, Galston.

The centre would include 16 two-bedroom apartments, 42 two- and 35 three-bedroom homes.

“Proposed facilities include a Leisure Centre with commercial kitchen, dining, bat, library, pool, gymnasium, craft room, auditorium, medical room, a bocce court, a (temporary) bowling green and tennis court,” the application said.

“The majority of the site, 330-334 Galston Road already enjoys a development consent for a retirement village.

“Post development, the site will represent an extension of the Galston Village.”

Living Choice general manager Jason Sack said the company purchased the greenfield site in Galston because “it already had an approved development application and site compatibility certificate for seniors housing”.

“We like to build a higher level of luxury with our seniors living centres,” Mr Sack told the Advocate.

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“When we went to Hornsby Council, we told them we wanted to develop better quality homes and a more substantial leisure facilities that what was first approved.

“Council said they were not going to allow amendments to the approval and called for a resubmission of the development application and SCC.

“We are caught up in political wrangling between the local councils, who have a NIMBY attitude, and the State Government, who are trying to make it easier for these developments to be approved.”

A seniors living development by Living Choice has been earmarked for Galston Rd, Galston.

It is understood the site was purchased for $10.5 million.

The Living Choice application argued the application would support the contribution of 11,000 new house to be built in the Hornsby Shire by 2031.

Former Hornsby Council acting Manager Jason Rawlin said officers objected to the development application in a submission to the NSW Government.

“The site is not suitable for more intensive development to the absence of a clear vision, infrastructure and funding plans for the Metropolitan Rural Area,” Mr Rawlin said.

“The proposal would be alien to its setting and represents an overdevelopment of the site which would detract from the character of the rural area.

Living Choice Glenhaven and Castle Hill resident Ken Lesson have joined forces with 150 residents pleading with the Hills Shire Council to allow seniors housing developments to occur on the site. (AAP IMAGE / Troy Snook)

“Council’s request to the Minister for Planning is reiterated that no further site compatibility certificates be issued for seniors housing developments in the rural areas of Hornsby Shire.”

Despite the fact that the NSW Government Sydney Central City Planning Panel is yet to determine the outcome of the application, Living Choice has already opened up registration if interests for the Glaston centre.

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The latest submission comes after seniors vying for limited accommodation at Living Choice Glenhaven called on The Hills Shire and Hornsby councils to scrap bans on seniors housing in rural areas.

The Central City Planning Panel is yet to set a date to debate the approval of the development.