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Pendle Hill Intergenerational Community

Artist's Impression
Artist's Impression
Artist's Impression
Artist's Impression

Fresh Hope Communities is progressing plans for the redevelopment of its site at 83-95 Pendle Way, 105 Pendle Way and 222-284 Dunmore Street, Pendle Hill, and is preparing to lodge a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for a whole of site Concept Master Plan and Stage 1 redevelopment.

Our vision
At Pendle Hill, Fresh Hope Communities’ vision is to enable residents to live their best lives within a community that is age-friendly, sustainable, healthier, inclusive and safe.

The Pendle Hill Concept Master Plan sets out our long-term vision. It will guide how we deliver the redevelopment in stages over the next 15 to 20 years, while continuing to deliver our care and mission purpose with as little disruption as possible to residents, staff and neighbours.

Our proposal
The proposal includes:

  • A whole-of-site intergenerational Concept Master Plan comprising of three (3) stages. Stages 2 and 3 are subject to separate DAs, which are many years away.
  • A detailed Stage 1 Development Application (DA).

Community engagement opportunities
Fresh Hope Communities is committed to ensuring the community is consulted throughout the development process as we truly value your feedback.

We held a community drop-in session at the Redgum Function Centre in Wentworthville on 26 August 2026 and a community webinar on 27 August 2026 to share information about the proposed development and hear feedback from local residents.

We thank everyone who attended and contributed their questions, insights and feedback. Community input is an important part of the planning process and helps us better understand the priorities and perspectives of our neighbours.

The project display boards presented at the community drop-in session are available to view below.

Project Display Boards

Enquire about the proposal
If you have any questions about the project, please reach out to the Fresh Hope Communities team directly on [email protected].

Project Fact Sheet & FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Fresh Hope Communities’ vision for the Pendle Hill site?

 

The Pendle Hill Concept Master Plan and Stage 1 SSDA reflects Fresh Hope Communities’ 15–20-year wholistic vision for the Pendle Hill site.

At Pendle Hill, Fresh Hope Communities’ vision is to enable residents to live their best lives within a community that is age-friendly, sustainable, healthier, inclusive and safe.

The Pendle Hill Concept Master Plan will guide how Fresh Hope Communities delivers the redevelopment in stages over the next 15 to 20 years, while continuing to deliver its care and mission purpose with as little disruption as possible to residents, staff and neighbours.

The Proposal includes:

  • A whole-of-site intergenerational community Concept Master Plan comprising of three (3) stages. Stages 2 and 3 are subject to separate Development Applications (DAs), which are many years away.
  • A detailed Stage 1 DA.

Stage 1 establishes the first phase of Fresh Hope Communities’ wholistic long-term vision for the Pendle Hill site, delivering a landscape-led residential neighbourhood that responds to the site’s topography, heritage setting and tree canopy.

Indicative Concept Master Plan  

The indicative Concept Master Plan will include approximately: 

  • 774 dwellings including Independent Living Units (ILUs), Affordable Housing Units (AHUs) and market residential apartments.  
  • A 120-bed residential care facility with 20 Assisted Living Units (ALUs).  
  • Refurbishment and re-purpose of Dunmore House and Ashwood House for food and beverage offerings and community facility.  
  • A central publicly accessible open space of over 15,000m2, celebrating Country, heritage and featuring all ages activities play including outdoor exercise equipment, public art, two children’s playgrounds for below six years and above, BBQ areas with shade structure and seating, and an amphitheatre.  
  • Neighbourhood shops; Childcare facility; Wellness and Community Hubs including pool and gym; library; Business and Innovation Hub featuring training facilities and co-working spaces for staff and residents; and Health Hub comprising allied health and integrated care.  
  • Pathways Community Church.  

Indicative Stage 1 SSDA  

Stage 1 of the SSDA will include approximately:  

  • 405 Independent Living Units (ILUs) and 11 Affordable Housing Units (AHUs) across ten buildings.  
  • Landscaped green open spaces that are publicly accessible and will feature children’s play equipment, outdoor dining facilities, shade, public art and pedestrian pathways through the site. 
  • Refurbishment and repurpose of Dunmore House (a locally listed heritage item) for a publicly accessible community facility with a food and beverage event space pavilion.  
  • Refurbishment and adaptive reuse of Ashwood House (a locally listed heritage item) for food and beverage uses including a cafe for residents, staff, visitors and the local community.  
  • Fresh Hope Communities’ resident amenities including health and wellness facilities. 
  • Basements to accommodate residential, staff and visitor carparking spaces, as well as the provision for emergency service vehicles, EV charging, residential storage, bicycles, motorbikes and waste collection services. 
2. What is a State Significant Development Application and why is this Proposal considered one?

 

The Proposal is assessed under a State Significant Development Application (SSDA), ensuring an efficient process occurs for Fresh Hope Communities to realise its wholistic long-term Concept Master Plan and Stage 1 vision for the Pendle Hill site.

The SSDA is for major State Significant Development projects, assessed by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (the Department) under a state-wide criteria.

The Proposal meets the SSDA criteria as it includes a residential care facility and has an estimated development cost of greater than $30 million.

SSDAs are assessed and determined by the Department. Council will have the opportunity to review the Proposal and make a submission.

3. What is involved in the SSDA Planning Process?

 

As part of SSDA planning process, the Department issues Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs), which outline technical assessments required to ensure the project can be assessed appropriately.

An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is prepared in accordance with the SEARs. The EIS assesses the potential environmental impacts of the proposal during construction and operation, and identifies measures to avoid, minimise or mitigate those impacts.

This includes community engagement and a range of environmental and social factors and the proposed construction program.

The Department will carry out its assessment of the proposal for the SSDA. This assessment will include the public exhibition of the SSDA post-lodgement and assessment of any community submissions received.

The Department assesses the merits of the proposal in accordance with Government legislation, plans, policies and guidelines. The SSDA will be determined by the Minister of Planning and Public Spaces.

For more information on the SSDA Planning Process visit Planning Portal.

Project Timeline

*Timelines are indicative only and subject to change

Pre-lodgement of SSDA

March 2026: Lodge Scoping Report requesting project-specific SEARs

May 2026: The Department issues project-specific SEARs

March-August 2026: Progress plans, EIS and technical reports

August 2026: Community and Stakeholder consultation

September 2026: Update plans, EIS and technical reports

November 2026: Lodge SSDA to the Department for assessment and determination

Post-lodgement of SSDA

December 2026: The Department exhibits the EIS for at least 28 days

The community can make formal submissions to the Department. The Department reviews the SSDA and may request additional information. Fresh Hope Communities responds via a Response to Submissions report. The SSDA may be amended, if required.

December 2028: The Department assess the SSDA and determination is made

4. What is being done to support current residents, their families and Pathways Community Church that currently reside and operate on the site during the planning approval process and construction?

 

Fresh Hope Communities is committed to keeping residents, their families, and staff and neighbours informed. Fresh Hope Communities will work closely with the existing residents and their families, staff, and Pathways Community Church, to support them through the planning approval process and minimise any disruption as the proposal progresses.

Importantly, there is no immediate impact on onsite residents, staff and surrounding neighbours. Should SSDA approval be issued by the Department, it will not result in immediate construction. It is important to note that Fresh Hope Communities is carefully exploring the staged development of Stage 1 to reduce impacts as much as possible. Further detailed design will be undertaken during the Construction Certificate stage prior to the commencement of any construction.

All residents, their families and staff are being provided with regular information and for those that choose to leave Fresh Hope Communities services, be it in the retirement community or residential care service, will be offered support to transition them into their new place of residence.

Pathways Community Church representatives are in regular communication with the Fresh Hope Communities development team, senior executives and representatives of the Fresh Hope Communities Board to ensure they are kept up to date with the latest information on the redevelopment.

Before any works commence, a detailed Construction Management Plan (CMP) will be developed in consultation to ensure concerns and wellbeing remain at the centre of planning and decision-making.

5. How will construction impacts be managed?

 

Importantly, there is no immediate impact on onsite residents, staff and surrounding neighbours. Should SSDA approval be issued by the Department, it will not result in immediate construction.

Fresh Hope Communities is dedicated to being a good neighbour and will seek to mitigate the disruption caused by the construction process to surrounding residents as much as possible. Further details about this process will be shared when relevant.

6. When will construction likely start?

 

The commencement of construction is still a few years away and at this stage, we are unable to confirm any specific relocation plans; however what we can reassure you is that residents, families, staff and neighbours will be given ample notice prior to any construction commencing.

When the time comes, we will work closely with the residents and families to ensure we can provide support and assistance with any relocation arrangements, as required. Our priority will always be the wellbeing and continuity of care for our residents.

7. Will staff be offered redundancies or opportunities to relocate to other buildings?

 

There are no staffing or operational changes as a result of the SSDA being lodged. At this stage, Fresh Hope Communities are only seeking planning approval and are not proposing to make any changes to roles or services.

8. Where can I see the proposal in detail?

 

Following lodgement of the SSDA with the Department, the application and supporting technical documents will be publicly available online from the start of the exhibition period via the NSW Planning Portal. Please visit: https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/pendle-hill-seniors-living

The exhibition period will allow the community to review the documentation and submit formal feedback to the Department.

9. Who else is being consulted on this project?

 

Fresh Hope Communities has undertaking consultation with Pathways Community Church, local Aboriginal stakeholders, current residents of the existing Pendle Hill Retirement and Ashwood Residential Care Service Community as well as their families and staff.

Fresh Hope Communities is also engaging with surrounding residents and businesses, local representatives and other nearby community groups and organisations to share the key design principles being developed by the project team and to listen to their views.

Enquire about the development