New Bryant House planned

Bryant House has bought the property above as they look to expand their retirement home. Photo / Duncan Brown

One of Taradale's long-established retirement villages will undergo a major expansion if a development proposal being put to a Napier City Council hearings committee this week is approved.

Bryant House, on King St, was established 40 years ago and can currently accommodate 33 rest home residents.

Its owners, Greg Pritchard and the Pritchard Family Trust, have bought several neighbouring properties and are seeking resource consent to demolish the existing facility and replace it with a modern new retirement complex.

The new complex would include 15 villas and a double-story rest home with 13 apartments and 47 single care rooms.

"The demands of the ageing community are changing and with the form and layout of the existing Bryant House building requiring major renovation within the next five years, there is an opportunity to review the current model in terms of the services and facilities that could be provided to the ageing community," the trust says in its consent application.

The philosophy behind the development was "to create a small boutique retirement village that is privately owned and operated with a commitment to personalised quality care".

The combined 9923sq m site for the proposed village, which backs onto Taradale Intermediate School, would bring together six properties.

The facility would include 33 on-site car parks, a community centre, a communal open space area and possibly a bowling green.

Council planning staff have recommended consents for the development be granted, subject to a number of conditions.

A decision will be made by a council hearings committee which will meet on Friday to consider the application.

The committee comprises councillors Tony Jeffery, Mark Herbert and Kirsten Wise.

Three neighbouring property owners have raised concerns about the development - including the impact of the two-story rest home building and increased traffic on King St.

Taradale High School and Taradale Intermediate Schools told the council they did not oppose the development but wanted to ensure normal school activities would be able to continue if it went ahead.