Bupa retirement village gets the go-ahead for Ulyatt Rd in Napier

Bupa's retirement village plans for Napier. Image / Supplied

Work will start next year to build more than 100 homes for the region's retirees, after private healthcare provider Bupa received the go-ahead for a new retirement village.

A Napier City Council resource consent hearing has approved plans for a 5795sq m village and complex that would include a kitchen, nursing station, communal dining and lounge areas and a visitor, service, reception and administration area on Ulyatt Rd in Napier.

The proposal comprises 99 single-storey retirement villas with internal garaging, 19 retirement apartments and associated detached garages, 49 care beds, as well as communal facilities and support facilities.

Bupa village and aged care managing director and global chief nurse Jan Adams said Bupa was pleased that consent had now been granted for the retirement village and care home.

"The site will co-locate independent living in our retirement village with high-quality care in our care home. This will provide our residents with an opportunity to continue calling Bupa home if their care needs and circumstances change.

"There is strong demand for quality retirement villages and care facilities in the Hawkes Bay region and we're excited about expanding our presence in the area. Our retirement villas will be built to a 6 Star Homestar rating, offering energy efficiency amongst other health, comfort and environmental benefits.

"We aim to start building during 2019. Bupa is looking forward to making this significant investment in Napier and creating jobs and opportunities within the local community."

A recent report published by PwC estimated that a 250-unit village contributes about $21.4 million to a local economy.

Retirement Villages Association executive director John Collyns said on that basis, the new Bupa village could be expected to contribute about $14.5m to the local economy, creating work for and around 200 construction jobs, and 50 or so ongoing jobs in the village.

"From our perspective, the ageing population requires councils to plan effectively for age-appropriate housing and amenities. Bupa's development will release 150 family homes for new families to enjoy as well as provide warm, secure places to live for older people, with companionship, money to live on (from the equity release from their original homes), and a pathway to care should that be needed.

"Suitable housing land in the Hawke's Bay is at a premium, and retirement villages are very efficient users of land. This development will put more dwellings in less space than a conventional housing development."