Welcome to the BASScare Rochester Road Redevelopment community engagement hub.

Read about our proposed plans to redevelop 2-12 Rochester Road and 243-247 Canterbury Road Canterbury sites, which in the past provided accommodation and support services to retired nurses in the area, into new retirement living, residential aged care, community and public amenities including offices.

We are pleased to advise that BASScare has submitted a Planning Permit application to the City of Boroondara for the redevelopment of our site at 2–12 Rochester Road and 243–247 Canterbury Road, Canterbury.

This marks a significant milestone in the project’s journey, with our latest design shaped by valuable feedback from residents and community members through recent engagement activities.

Full details can be viewed at the Planning Register of City of Boroondara.

Key Refinements to the Proposal

Since the introduction of our early concept plans in August 2024, several important enhancements have been made to better reflect community priorities and local character:

• Built Form Response
  • Transition of front setback along Rochester Road, enabling in-ground landscaping toward northern residential interface
  • Further resolution of building composition to ensure separation between buildings along Rochester Road
  • Increased upper level setbacks along Rochester Road to minimise built form to the public realm
  • Resolution of built form to Canterbury Road, in response to heritage considerations.

• Northern Elevation enhancements – Reduced visual impact for northern neighbours including:
  • Alteration to balcony locations to respond to northern boundary built form
  • New upper-level balcony planter boxes integrated into façade
  • Removal of windows from northern corner apartments
  • High level windows introduced to minimise overlooking potential.

• Landscaping – Greater harmony with the local streetscape and improved amenity including:
  • Refinement of landscape response to integrate with the public realm
  • Canopy tree planting along northern boundary to reduce visual appearance of built form
  • Retention of significant existing canopy trees adjacent to Shrubblands Creek Reserve
  • Resolution of internal courtyard spaces for benefit of future residents.

• Parking and Vehicle Access – Improved access and reduced traffic disruption including:
  • Confirmation that dedicated off-street parking will be provided for Retirement Village including townhouses (Buildings 1,2, part of 3); Residential Aged Care (part of building 3) and Office (building 4)
  • Total number of car parking provided onsite will be more than statutory requirements
  • Rationalisation of crossovers to Rochester Road, from 6 (existing) to 4 (proposed).

• Noise and Ongoing Operation – Measures to limit impact on the surrounding community including:
  • All car parking, deliveries and waste management to occur within basement
  • Primary communal open space areas located centrally within site to minimise impacts of outdoor resident activities
  • Commitment by BASScare to undertake a Construction Management Plan prior to any works commencing on site.

• Sustainability Initiatives – Features designed to reduce environmental impact and foster community wellbeing including:
  • Electric heat pump hot water units
  • Low-impact material selection
  • Solar panels
  • Rainwater for toilet flushing and irrigation of landscaped areas
  • Natural ventilation to all habitable spaces
  • Provision of double glazing for enhanced thermal performance
  • Provision of EV charging station
  • On-site bicycle spaces.

Please register for Project Updates (see 'subscribe' form on this page).

Follow Us on Facebook: Stay informed and see behind-the-scenes updates as we plan for a world-class community at Rochester Road, Canterbury.

Our research has shown that there is an insufficient supply of retirement living and modern residential aged care accommodation for the ageing population of the area.

BASScare has resolved to redevelop the now unoccupied site as an integrated community.

During August and September 2024, feedback on a draft masterplan was gathered through a public webinar and community drop-ins to inform a planning submission to the City of Boroondara.

Our in-house development team, along with our specialist architects and planners, have actively participated in this engagement process. We are now reviewing and revising the concept plans based on the feedback received and ongoing discussions with Council, relevant agencies, and neighbouring properties.

A summary of the feedback gathered from the community is now available in our Community Engagement Report.

BASScare (Boroondara Aged Services Society) has a long history in the community, beginning life in 1957 as the Canterbury Citizens Welfare Committee. It was formed by community members who recognised that the elderly who weren’t part of a mainstream church body often found themselves socially isolated and neglected, without access to any form of assistance. The principles that guided our inception are the same ones that drive us forward today.

The proposed redevelopment at Rochester Road is not our first large development. We have delivered major residential aged care and retirement living developments within the City of Boroondara including Hester Canterbury, 9 Chatham Rd, Canterbury and Morgan Glen Iris, 14 Elizabeth Street, Glen Iris.