Gay retirement village stalls

Further delays on floor plans for Australia’s first GLBT retirement village have dashed hopes building will start before the end of the year.
Those interested in buying off the plan will now have to wait until early 2010 for the Ballan-based village.
The $26 million Linton Estate project has experienced a series of delays since it was announced in July last year, with the global financial crisis and thrashing out suitable floor plans being blamed.
Developer Peter Dickson told Southern Star after consultation with those who’ve registered solid interest in the village, initial concept drawings are being reviewed to meet buyers’ expectations.
“It’s longer than I would have hoped, but as we know these things sometimes take a long time and I want to get it right… I’m just being patient,” Dickson said.
Initial plans to build the village were approved by Moorabool Shire Council in 2007, however, floor plan changes have to be resubmitted before building can be given the go-ahead.
Dickson has been in talks with the council.
The high-end GLBT-friendly village will contain 120 residential units with buyers able to choose from a variety of facades and interiors.
Mortgage broker Global Edge Finance Group and Bendigo Bank have backed the project with a loan as the initial planning stages go ahead.
Interiors have been designed by Melbourne designer Andrew Hickman, with Caddco Creative Alternative Design & Drafting in West Footscray drawing up architectural blueprints.
Dickson said so far 155 people have registered interest in the project.

info: www.lintonestate.com.au