Artistic Impression by Scott Carver Architects
The Sydney Western City Planning Panel has approved a significant new seniors housing development at 1-3 and 20-22 Old Menangle Road, Campbelltown, led by Campbelltown Catholic Club Ltd. With a capital investment of $86,215,165, the project was initially lodged with the Council on 15 March 2024 and is designed to provide dedicated living spaces for seniors within the community-focused environment of the Campbelltown Catholic Club precinct.
Overview of the Development
The approved development involves demolishing existing structures and constructing a multi-level residential complex for seniors within the Catholic Club site. The new facility will feature 92 independent living units, comprising 61 two-bedroom and 31 three-bedroom apartments, each designed with private terraces or balconies that encourage outdoor living. Residents will have access to communal amenities, including a wellness facility, library, cinema, workshop, lounge, and a pool, creating a comprehensive environment that supports well-being and social interaction.
A key element of the development is the adaptive reuse of the heritage-listed Emily Cottage on the site. Emily Cottage, which holds cultural and historical significance, will be repurposed as a wine room and library, complete with a surrounding garden for residents and visitors. This integration of heritage into the project was a significant factor in the approval, reflecting the development’s alignment with the area’s cultural context.
This seniors housing project is located in an entertainment and cultural precinct within Campbelltown’s CBD, which also houses popular destinations such as the Campbelltown Arts Centre, Aquafit gym, and Macarthur Square. Given the active nature of this location, the Panel included a condition requiring residents to be informed of the potential for noise from nearby venues and events to ensure transparency and reduce the likelihood of future noise complaints.
Key Reasons for Approval
The approval was based on a comprehensive assessment that determined the development was appropriate for the site and consistent with key planning instruments, including the State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) for Housing 2021, the Campbelltown Local Environmental Plan 2015, and the Campbelltown Sustainable City Development Control Plan 2015.
One notable feature is the project’s compliance with environmental planning grounds, despite exceeding the area’s maximum height limit of 22.8 metres. The development reaches a height of 28.65 metres, which was permitted under a Clause 4.6 height variation. The Planning Panel supported this variation based on findings that the building’s height would align well with the nearby Rydges building and create a balanced transition between Campbelltown’s CBD core and surrounding cultural sites. Additionally, the design of the upper levels was adjusted to recede, reducing any visual bulk and minimising overshadowing impacts on surrounding landmarks such as the Campbelltown Arts Centre, which only experiences minor shadowing after 3 pm in winter.
The Planning Panel also recognised the project’s design excellence, following two rounds of review by the Campbelltown Design Excellence Panel. The design integrates elements that enhance the heritage value of adjacent sites, including Quondong Cottage. The Panel recommended the addition of heritage-inspired public art on the building’s southern façade, enhancing the area’s cultural character. This artwork will further help the structure blend with nearby heritage buildings.
Addressing Community Concerns
During the public exhibition period, one submission raised concerns about potential parking issues, site suitability, and the preservation of Emily Cottage as a community resource. In response, the development plan includes three levels of basement parking, with 88 spaces dedicated to Catholic Club staff and 135 spaces for residents, surpassing minimum requirements. These provisions address parking concerns by accommodating both residential needs and those of the Catholic Club.
The Panel also assessed the use of Emily Cottage and determined that its adaptive reuse within the seniors housing development would help preserve its heritage. The low-intensity use as a wine room and library was considered suitable, as the cottage’s small size limits its viability for a public venue.
Project Team
- Developer: Campbelltown Catholic Club Ltd
- Architect: Scott Carver
- Urban Planner: Premise
- Landscape Architect: Scott Carver
- Traffic and Transport Consultant: Bitzios Consulting
- Heritage Consultant: Urbis Heritage
- Acoustic Consultant: Acoustic Logic
- Waste Management Consultant: Elephant House Waste Solutions
- Flooding and Stormwater Consultant: Henry & Hymas
- Geotechnical Consultant: Douglas Partners
- Environmental Site Assessment: Environmental Earth Sciences
For further details, search for application number 584/2024/DA-SL on the Campbelltown Council’s website.
