Aged care site on the market in Denman Prospect

A 12,150-square-metre block slated for an aged care facility is on the market in Denman Prospect.

The site, positioned in the suburb’s second stage of development, is close to the local shops and the future Molonglo Valley group centre.

Capital Estate Developments director of project delivery Nick McDonald Crowley said the sale marked the first opportunity to build an aged care facility in Molonglo Valley.

“Weston Creek was developed for the most part through the ’70s, and aged care is in increasing demand,” Mr McDonald Crowley said.

“There are two established aged care facilities in Weston Creek, but none to date in the Molonglo Valley.

“We expect strong demand in coming years for older people looking to downsize to lower maintenance dwellings, with surrounding community amenity suited to that lifestyle.”

Mr McDonald Crowley said the zoning for the land was broad with no limit on dwelling numbers, so there was no estimate for the number of residents the site could accommodate.

The site is zoned CZ5 for mixed use, allowing for complementary commercial components.

• Related: Aged care should mirror homes, not hospitals
• Related: Design revealed for Denman Prospect shops
• Related: Public housing, aged living dominate land release

“Our vision is for other light commercial uses to provide amenity to self-supported housing in an aged care environment,” Mr McDonald Crowley said.

“Uses such as a coffee shop or communal community area are envisaged, but this will be determined by the aged care providers who establish the facility.”

The block is one of Denman Prospect’s flattest sites and a neighbouring park will be constructed in early 2018.

Accommodation for Canberra’s ageing population was a major focus in the ACT government’s 2017-18 land release program.

Residential aged care will be developed on a 47,400-square-metre slice of land in Ngunnawal.

New suburbs and precincts have also integrated aged care and retirement living facilities into their master plan, including a 135-unit Goodwin development, the Central in Crace.

A long-awaited residential development at the old Downer Primary School site will include 120 independent living units.

Expressions of interest for the Denman Prospect site close on Thursday, August 10.