A $99 million seniors’ independent living village in Emu Plains has received Development Approval for the second stage of its site redevelopment, delivering new, high quality independent and retirement living homes, responding to the needs of older people in the Nepean and lower Blue Mountains area.
The redevelopment of Uniting’s Edinglassie Village will deliver 147 independent living apartments, with 43 apartments (29 per cent) available as affordable housing for seniors. The development builds upon the success of the residential aged care home completed in 2021, which won the 2022 UDIA NSW Award for Excellence in the Residential Aged Care category. Together, the homes offer a continuum of care to residents as their needs evolve, including Assisted Living options, which offer in-home support such as cleaning and personal care.
Residents of Edinglassie Village will benefit from an array of on-site amenities that formed part of stage one, including a multi-purpose space, café, hairdressing salon, chapel and consulting rooms for visiting medical and allied health professionals. Stage two will see the addition of a new clubroom for resident events and activities to help strengthen social connections within the village community.
The existing Uniting Edinglassie retirement and independent living village was opened in the early 1970s and is now in need of redevelopment to provide higher quality housing and a diverse range of contemporary independent living options to meet the needs of Australia’s ageing population.
With Australians living longer, healthier lives, demand is growing for more seniors and affordable housing. According to Penrith City Council’s Demographic Analysis Reports: Older Population, 13 per cent of the population is aged over 65 years, and of those residents, their incomes are 11 per cent lower than the Greater Sydney average.
Uniting Director of Property and Housing Simon Furness said the ageing population and demographic of the area highlights the urgent need for more affordable living options for seniors.
“Uniting has been providing aged care services in the Penrith area for 50 years and we’re proud to be investing in its future through the redevelopment of Uniting Edinglassie Village,” Mr Furness said.
“Our focus is on providing homes and facilities that enhance the quality of life for older Australians so they can age in place and stay connected with their local communities. We’re committed to ensuring seniors continue to have access to quality, affordable living and services within the region and we look forward to seeing them enjoy their new homes upon completion.”
The five buildings included in the development will comprise a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments.
Uniting has partnered with Taylor Brammer, a highly experienced landscape architecture firm to ensure Uniting Edinglassie Village flows seamlessly with the environment and suburb of Emu Plains. One of the village’s stand-out features is the heritage-listed sandstone Church located on the grounds which was built in 1862. Now described as a ‘Chapel’, the Church was integrated within Edinglassie Village when the site was redeveloped as a retirement village and nursing home by the Uniting Church in 1979. Enhancements around the Chapel took place during the recent stage one redevelopment, including new landscaping and an entry driveway, to better integrate the Chapel into the site.
Construction is due to commence in early 2025 and Uniting expects the transformation will see approximately 150-200 jobs created throughout the construction period.
About Uniting retirement living
Uniting is committed to developing retirement and independent living solutions for older people across NSW and the ACT. As the largest not-for-profit provider of seniors services in NSW and the ACT, Uniting currently has over 3,700 residents living independently across 24 independent living communities. Residents embrace an active lifestyle with care available when needed. Over the next decade Uniting will continue to invest in new retirement and independent living communities that generate financial returns that can assist to deliver social impact through concessional aged care, low-cost rental housing and social impact projects across the organisation.
