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Master Planning
Merrin & Cranston have substantial Master Planning experience of various sized sites for optimal development solutions. Our Master Planning experience extends from niche market integrated aged care and retirement living to high density multi-level apartments and residential aged care facilities. Our portfolio of projects includes one of the largest retirement living and aged-care sites in Australia for Anglican Retirement Villages at Castle Hill NSW, where we have undertaken a 30-year Master Planning exercise on a 43 hectare site.
Over M&C’s 40 years we have undertaken many retirement village and aged care projects, most of which have required Master Planning considerations due to the shear size of the facilities and sites. As a part of this process we have also undertaken facility reviews, strategic asset portfolio reviews & staged master planning.
Examples of master planning experience include:
- ARV Castle Hill - 30 year master plan to re-organise a long established site including provision of up to 1500 independent living units, 552 new residential aged care beds, internal roads network study and long-term assessment of existing building stock.
- Azure Blue - integrates three apartment buildings (4 & 5 storey) totalling 122 units plus recreational centre with a 3 storey 96 bed Residential Aged Care facility and neighbouring Community Service building. The 1.3 ha site required a basement carpark and Hospitality Services solution. See azureblue.com.au for more detail.
- Blue Care Carina - master planned integrated retirement village site incorporating 75 Independent Living Units, 22 Apartments, 128 Aged Care beds, village recreation facilities and nature walk through retained remnant bushland.
- Hillsong Church Brisbane (formerly Garden City Christian Church) - new building linked to existing 2000-seat auditorium, includes main entry foyer/atrium/gallery, commercial kitchen & café, college offices & lecture rooms, and multi-level Carpark for 1000 cars.
- Qld Baptist Care Brookfield Village - 10-15 year staged master plan to re-organise the site, consolidate aged care facilitates and expand the retirement village to including 91 independent living units plus 60 bed residential aged care.
- Illawarra Retirement Village - new 150 retirement living apartment complex with integrated 60-bed residential aged care and retail precinct. Development acknowledges and identifies local cultural and environmental sensitivities associated with the adjacent creek that flows into the harbour.
- Wesley Mission Brisbane - 20 year Asset Portfolio Strategic Plan to re-organise and upgrade 10 established integrated aged care and retirement village sites and identify consolidation and future growth opportunities within the portfolio.
- Lutheran Community Care Queensland - 30 year Asset Portfolio Strategic Plan for 13 aged care and retirement village site throughout suburban & regional Queensland in reponse to detailed market analysis.
Merrin & Cranston‘s ability to provide master planning and related architectural services stems from a depth of aged care understanding and experience over many years. At the outset of design, we believe it is important to develop a master plan that captures the essential outcomes, realistically addressing the site constraints and maximising its potential. With a clear design brief in hand, our skilled design team establish a design specific solution for a site and building layout that supports, facilitates and expresses the desired outcomes.
Developing a site specific master plan involves bringing together a number key influences. In depth consideration is given to:
- site features such as views, significant trees, connectivity to the surrounding local community;
- site constraints such as development density, boundary setbacks, building height limits, easements, stormwater management, achieving accessible gradients and site services;
- achieving a balance of yield feasibility and appropriate amenity;
- market needs and trends;
- the benefits and challenges with various development options and approaches;
- creating communities within community ie. Identifying site use precincts within an integrated framework; and
- Creating desirable outdoor spaces enhanced by natural daylight and landscapes
The ability to stage construction and accommodate decanting and construction access requirements.