Luxury retirement village in Fullerton is underway after "torturous" and "flawed" approval process

Ian Tregoning and Graham Hobbs from developers Living Choice say the approval process needs reviewing. They believe local residents objecting the $12m project have too much power and put millions of dollars of investment remains at risk.

"It's been a three or four-year process, a torturous process and the moral of the story is that I believe the average citizen has too much power," Mr Tregoning said. "They can stand up and, for virtually no cost, stop a $100 million project."

Living Choice spent more than $1 million defending a court challenge to council over the Fullarton project.

One local resident who lived several streets away wanted greater control of lighting inside the building. “She didn't want to see any lights - can you believe that?" Mr Tregoning said.

"They (local residents) bought knowing there was a derelict site that could go six storeys - and they bought cheap because they were right next to the eyesore."

"I think there needs to be a cost regime. If people feel so strongly about a particular development they have to have some money at risk in relation to their objection."

Tregoning and Hobbs acquired Living Choice in 2003, and the Fullarton village is their first in SA, following expansion into the NSW and Queensland markets.

It will include 142 independent and supported living apartments, an indoor pool, restaurant, function centre, cinema and a bowling green.