Kingswood: Mental-health facility planned near Nepean Hospital

The nepean health precinct is set to expand with a developer has lodging $29.5 million plans to build a new multi-storey health facility near the hospital.

An artist's impression of a mental-health facility planned in Kingswood near the Nepean Hospital. Picture: Supplied

Almost three years after the Somerset Specialist Centre was approved near the Nepean Hospital, developers have lodged plans for another private health service next door.

Barwon Investment Partners lodged plans with Penrith Council earlier this month to build a five-storey clinic on the corner of Somerset and Hargrave Streets in Kingswood, across the road from the Nepean Hospital public parking tower.

According to documents lodged with the development application, the new facility would specialise in mental-health treatment and provide 90 rooms for mental-health inpatients.

The building would also feature eight large consulting rooms on the fourth floor, and more consulting rooms located on the ground floor.

The site where a new multistorey mental-health facility could be built in Kingswood. Picture: Google

Two basement levels would provide parking for 92 vehicles, and the plans also have a gym, a pharmacy and group rooms on the ground floor.

If approved, the works are expected to cost almost $29.5 million.

A planner from Think Planners, on behalf of Barwon Investment Partners, said the application would require a slight change in Council policy for approval.

“The … facility has been designed to comply with key planning requirements, however incorporates a minor variation to the maximum building-height requirements under the Penrith Local Environmental Plan 2010,” they said. “The noncompliance is limited to a stairwell overrun.

The Somerset Specialist Centre was approved by Penrith Council almost three years ago. Picture: Google

“The proposed amalgamation and subsequent development will not result in isolating or restricting neighbouring properties.”

The planner recommended council approval, saying the proposal would “align with the vision of the Penrith Health and Education Precinct”.

“(The proposal will provide) a contemporary hospital … to positively support the function and operation of the Health Precinct,” the planner said.

“The proposal will also positively contribute towards increasing valuable specialised health services and employment opportunities within the precinct and surrounding suburbs.”

Barwon Investment Partners declined to comment when approached by the Penrith Press.