754 Pacific Highway, Chatswood: Seniors housing proposed

The site sits on the western side of Pacific Highway, approximately 450 metres’ walk from Chatswood station. The application also seeks changes to planning controls, increasing the permitted building height from 12 metres to approximately 99 metres and allowing more floorspace.

What’s planned

The ground floor would contain a retail tenancy, café and health-and-beauty space, alongside an internal pedestrian link between Pacific Highway and View Lane. Public access through the ground floor is proposed from 7am to 7pm daily. Tenancy fit-outs and operations would require separate approval.

Within the housing total, 22 assisted living apartments on the first two floors would offer additional support from trained health staff. Residents could move into these apartments as their care needs change, subject to availability.

Shared facilities would include a pool, gym, workshop, pottery space, restaurant and landscaped terraces. These would serve residents and their guests. Evolve Housing is proposed to manage the affordable apartments for 15 years.

Existing site

The site contained houses in the early 1900s before shifting to commercial and automotive uses, including a car dealership and mechanical workshop, from the 1940s. The current four-storey commercial building was approved in the 1980s.

Today, the property contains offices with surface and basement parking. The proposal would demolish the existing building and replace it with seniors’ housing above commercial uses.

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