Wivenhoe Village wins prestigious retirement living award

A semi-rural retirement living development on the outskirts of Sydney has achieved national recognition at the 2018 Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall Awards.

Boutique developer Mbark Pty Ltd was presented with the GHD Woodhead Award for Best Retirement Living Development for its Wivenhoe Village development at a gala dinner in Sydney this evening.

Wivenhoe Village, located within the Kirkham Rise development, offers more than seven kilometres of walking trails and cycleways through picturesque bushland, woodland parks and onsite dams. The semi-rural environment is convenient to shops, community facilities, hospitals and churches.

Property Council Chief Executive Ken Morrison says Mbark showed unwavering commitment to a new housing model for people looking to downsize.

“Retirement living was initially not permitted on the site, so Mbark needed a clear vision to gain the support of local and state planning authorities,” Mr Morrison explains.

“This visionary approach provides new housing options to people who have lived on acreages and larger lots and want to downsize without losing privacy and space.”

Development was restricted to areas where bush clearing had already occurred, which means the retirement living precinct is set amongst 120 hectares of Cumberland Plain Woodlands.

Homes are single-storey and freestanding, oriented to capture northern sun and bushland or park views. A combination of two- and three-bedroom designs, including studies, also feature the choice of oversized single or double garages.

“Wivenhoe’s motto is ‘retirement without compromise’, and this has undoubtedly been delivered,” says RLB’s Managing Director NSW Matthew Harris.

“The judges were impressed with an innovative retirement village that provides a private, luxurious and independent lifestyle connected to its local community,” Mr Harris adds.

RLB has partnered with the Property Council of Australia to present the Innovation & Excellence Awards program since its inception in 1982.

The 2018 Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation and Excellence Award winners were announced on Friday 11 May at a gala dinner at the International Convention Centre Sydney.