Esplanade Norwest to include apartments for residents needing on-site support

 6 September 2019

Aoyuan International, the developers delivering the integrated lifestyle community, Esplanade Norwest in Sydney’s Hills, has finalised a deal that will upgrade 11 apartments with accessibility features for people with disabilities.

Purchased by non-profit housing provider Summer Housing, the 11 apartments will help service the growing need to provide appropriate accommodation for people with disabilities or complex care needs.

Summer Housing is active across Australia and in the past 12 months has contracted more than 190 apartments for their clients.Aoyuan International’s Head of Development, Adrian Liaw, says the chance to integrate accessible apartments within Esplanade, and have a partnership with Summer Housing met an important community need.

“Esplanade is delivering a whole new concept of living, with an integrated approach that combines offices, residential, recreation, shopping and dining within easy reach of the terrific new Norwest Station.

“To be able to make this level of convenience available to those within the community that need some extra support is excellent and very aligned with our values of promoting connected and inclusive communities,” he said.

Established in 2017, Summer Housing’s mission is to expand the range and scale of diverse housing options for people with disability living in, or at risk of admission to, residential aged care, particularly younger people.

The provider’s model is to deliver accessible housing with onsite support, located within larger residential multi-dwelling developments.

The apartments include provisions for smart home assistive technology to give individuals greater choice and control over how they live, promoting independence.

Summer Housing’s chief executive Dan McLennan said: “Across Australia there are more than 6200 young people who are forced to live in aged-care facilities with older people often in their 80s, because there is no alternative housing solution for them. There is an urgent need to significantly increase the range and scale of housing for people with disability.”

“Young people in aged-care homes are also forced to live interstate, away from their family, friends, partners and children. Younger people with disability should have the ability to live in a home that meets their needs and allows them to continue to actively participate in the community.

Summer Housing chose Esplanade Norwest because of its location, access to public transport links and high-quality master-planned developments Aoyuan International is known for.

The Esplanade is the first integrated community of its kind in the area, with a diverse mix of apartments, a host of resident-only features including an outdoor cinema, waterfront dining and retail areas set on a public boardwalk.

McLennan says, “The right housing and support in the right location can increase a person’s quality of life and independence, while reducing lifetime care costs.”

ENDS