Palm Beach Tower Plans Morph to Vertical Retirement

Revised plans have been filed for an approved Gold Coast apartment tower, morphing the greenlit project into a vertical retirement village.

Newcastle-based developer Richard Stanton is behind the reworked proposal.

The change application seeks to supersede plans by Sydney-based developer Masscon for a nine-storey tower comprising 58 apartments.

Despite an approval being granted in December 2022 for the previous scheme, the development has not progressed.

The 1783sq m site at 1276-1280 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach, sits at the corner of Fourteenth Avenue.

Under the proposed change to a vertical retirement village, the overall built form and appearance of the approved tower are to be preserved—albeit with one less storey and minor changes to the facade, materials and colours.

Significantly, however, the apartment yield has been reduced by more than half to 28 two and three-bedroom units. Each residential level will accommodate four apartments, down from the approved seven per floor.

“The development is proposing to modify the apartment typology and mix to appeal to the intended future occupants,” a planning report said.

“Furthermore, despite the land use change, the application will largely operate and remain to function as a multiple dwelling with each resident being completely independent and requiring no care/assistance.

“The proposed development will have a staff member on site, however this will be mainly to take care of the day to day operations at the reception desk in the main lobby.”

▲ Renders of the reworked plans for the site at 1276-1280 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach.

Communal open space has been almost doubled—from 373sq m to 663sq m—under the new plans with the removal of two ground-floor units. It features dining and cooking facilities, an outdoor pool, sauna, spa, gym and sitting areas.

As well, one of two basement levels proposed under the approved plans has been removed “as this is no longer required to accommodate the residents based on the reduction in overall yield”.

Carparking spaces have been reduced from 94 to 48 with dedicated parking spaces and aisles widened “to facilitate ease of use”.

“Within the context of the previous approval, the proposed development results in a lower intensity and lower rise development which is enhancing the local character and the amenity by respecting the existing scale and building height of the surrounding area,” the report said.