Merrylands, Pitt St: Aged care homes to reach 24 storeys
More Aussies’ ages are heading north and so are their homes, with plans for a ‘first-of-its-kind’ $104 million aged care home to reach 24 storeys in a western Sydney suburb.
Parramatta
Don't miss out on the headlines from Parramatta . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Seniors’ ages are heading north and so are their homes, with plans for a Merrylands aged care “vertical village” at Pitt St to reach 24 storeys — and be the “first of its kind’’ in the suburb.
Anglicare Community Services has lodged plans with Cumberland Council for 186 dwellings — 88 for aged care and 98 for independent living — at 215 and 229-239 Pitt St.
The plans feature a communal roof top open space, outdoor dining, ground floor retail podium and three levels of basement parking with 135 spaces in the 93m tower.
The aged care tower fronts Pitt and MacaFarlane streets, and Milne and Reyes lanes.
If the ambitious project gets the green light, it would be one storey shorter than a 25-level tower slated at the nearby 790-unit Merrylands Court development, which Cumberland Mayor Steve Christou labelled “overkill”.
Merrylands resident Gillian Kirby has lodged a 20-page submission objecting to the aged care home, citing a raft of problems including “saturating” the centre of Merrylands.
“Yes — the site is near shops and services and transport but at what compromise with other amenity?,’’ she wrote.
“Surely such a development would be better located elsewhere where there can be adequate communal space — and open space — and greenery, room to be able to easily participate in social interaction?
She also criticised the lack of visitor parking and highlighted that Anglicare allocated Stockland as a parking option.
“I don’t think Stockland would appreciate users of the Anglicare building being told to use Stockland carpark — particularly when Stockland had to dedicate part of its carpark for public parking and this section is generally full early in the morning, utilised by commuters,’’ she said.
A report into the development Anglicare conceded the number of parking spaces did not fully comply with residential standards but it was “considered appropriate due to the locational characteristics of the site and proximity to major transport and shopping centres’’.
The report also said the proposal achieved only some of the requirements for design
excellence.
“ … Until the remaining design concerns are completely addressed and documented by the design team the proposal cannot achieve a design excellence certificate,’’ the report said.
“As the proposal is the first of its kind within the Merrylands Town Centre, it is envisaged
the development in time will provide a benchmark for future developments.’’
Plans are open to public feedback on the council’s website but the Sydney Central City Planning Panel will determine the application.
haveyoursay.cumberland.nsw.gov.au
