Plans for a $9 million three-storey residential village in Warrnambool will feature 93 apartments, a medical centre and two food outlets.
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Developer Mark Schneider, of Mortlake Road Pty Ltd, said the modern design of the apartments, which will be built on land next to the fire station, aimed to meet the needs of one and two person households.
Mr Schneider said single working women were identified as a demographic in need of housing diversity.
"I am delighted to have the opportunity to respond to Warrnambool's urgent need for new housing with this exciting new project," he said.
"The village style environment is aimed at providing community and security, within a convenient proximity to the North Warrnambool shopping precinct."
If approved, a number of houses will be demolished to make way for the development which will also cater for retirees and busy working professionals or small families.
Most of the apartments will be one bedroom or studio-style with the exception of those units above the shops which will have two bedrooms.
About 15 of the units will front Mortlake Road while the rest will front an internal driveway.
The original plans for the development included another building, but it has been abandoned so the existing sandstone house next door to the fire station can be retained.
The house, which was once used as a medical clinic, will be used as a sales office throughout the project.
The new development will include a medical centre for one practitioner, a 36-seat food outlet which would be open from 8am to 5pm, as well as a takeaway venue which would operate from 11am to 8pm.
The development will also include a children's playground, grassed village square and an enclosed community produce garden.
A community hub with a meeting room and consulting suites will be available for visiting professionals such as financial advisors, occupational therapists or beauticians
It would also cater for social activities such as cycling, craft club, cards club, walking group and yoga aimed at providing the elderly and potentially isolated individuals a chance to interact.
"With isolation and mental illness being a huge problem in the community, we have designed this to encourage singles, especially single women, single men and the elderly to be able to easily join in and socialise with each other," the planning application says.
The planning application will be on display at the city council until November 11 before a decision is made on whether to approve the development.
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