JW Land has lodged plans for a major Belconnen residential and hotel precinct that considers “ageing in place”—and not just for seniors.
The Canberra developer has submitted a proposal for a 5675sq m site at Lathlain Street, Belconnen, comprising 435 units and a 144-key hotel.
According to the development outcomes report submitted to the ACT Government, “ageing in place has been considered through apartment design” with both smaller and family-sized units in the podium and at higher levels.
The four-building proposal includes offices along Lathlain Street at level one, as well as shops and restaurants.
Concept proposals were released in 2023 before the detailed plans were submitted this month. They are now on exhibition.
Buildings A and B share a podium with two towers between 12 and 18 storeys with similar heights in Buildings C and D, according to the plans.
Collectively, the proposals put forward 180 one-bedroom apartments of eight different configurations, and 233 two-bedroom units with a combination of bedrooms plus study and/or second bathroom.
The remainder will be three-bedroom units. All of the apartment blocks will be serviced by three residential lobbies.
Designed by Cox Architecture, the proposal also includes multiple rooftop gardens, shared dining facilities, nature play and exercise spaces.
JW Land’s application said this would “promote interaction between residents and enable flexible spaces programmable for a range of activities”.
The hotel element will have restaurant, conference and meeting facilities and a “generously proportioned lobby with concierge”.
JW Land’s project is in the Belconnen town centre area, an area anticipating “significant change” in terms of land use, mix, density and building height.
That includes the creation along the northern end of Lathlain Street, of a public realm to integrate into the wider precinct masterplan.
The ACT Government said its Belconnen town centre masterplan aimed to make Lathlain Street a major shopping destination, encouraging better connectivity through the suburb and stimulating new development with height controls to encourage urban renewal.
Buildings up to 27 storeys may be considered where criteria for innovative building design is met, according to the masterplan in the drafting stage.
Off the back of this, developer interest in the neighbourhood is rising.
Plans for 24 and 27-storey dual towers were filed by investor RF Corval and Elanor Investors last year submitted plans for a 300-apartment build-to-rent project.
