Southern Cross Care WA’s partnership with boutique developer Yolk Property group to redevelop a vacant 14 hectare site in Champion Lakes, 22km from Perth is the latest development that will  see retirement living and aged care built alongside apartments, townhouses, commercial, retail and public open space.

The idea is to create a community hub where residents from across the region will be able to live and stay engaged with others.

Similar projects are also in the works around the country – in Sydney, an aged care facility and retirement apartments are part of a new social housing scheme being developed for Macquarie Park that will also include apartments, a vertical high school and childcare.

In the Whitsundays in Queensland, developer Homeland Property is planning a residential, aged care and retirement living precinct near Bowen – complete with its own AFL Club.

An unusual idea – but we predict we’ll see more of these ‘mixed use’ developments.

Incorporating villages and aged care into these developments allows residents to stay connected to their local community – with health services, community centres and more all close to hand.

Isn’t that what we all want?