The retirement village earmarked at Dyson Drive will include 226 new dwellings, set to be mix of two and three bedroom houses. 

The city’s west has long been earmarked as the council’s preferred location for residential growth and infrastructure.

However, serious concerns were raised in an independent study of the City of Ballarat’s proposed housing strategy earlier this year.

The analysis by Australian consultancy firm AEC Group found there was an urgent need for the council to investigate expanding housing outside of the Ballarat west growth zone, which encompassed fast-selling residential estates  including Lucas and Alfredton.

Doubts were raised in the report on the viability of focusing all infrastructure growth on one corridor. 

Property Economics and Valuations principal Esther Cheong, who led the review, warned the council needed to urgently investigate other options, including rolling out residential housing to the city’s south, north and east. 

She also flagged concerns about a lack of open space, a housing shortage and road congestion.

In the wake of the report, Ballarat mayor Des Hudson said the council was investigating other areas for housing growth to curb the swell in population predicted. 

A study exploring infill housing in Ballarat East began last week.

The city’s population is expected to soar from 93,501 to 160,000 by 2040. 

Cr Hudson said a condition of any development of this scale was it allocated at least five per cent to open space.

“We also ensure there is access to parkland within a few hundred metres of every large-scale housing development,” Cr Hudson said. 

He said extensive traffic reports reports were undertaken on surrounding streets including Cuthberts Road before the permit was granted.

“Impacts on roads will be continue to be monitored,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the Ballarat East plan would focus on building lower-scale housing in appropriate pockets of land closer to the CBD.

“Smaller parcels may deliver 15 to 20 dwellings,” he said. 

“The study will delve into how Ballarat East will evolve in next 15 to 20 years.” 

The Lucas retirement village is a partnership between developers Omega Communities and Gannon Lifestyle Group.

The state-of-the-art retirement village will also include communal facilities like an outdoor bowling green, bar, gym, library, cinema and clubhouse.  

Omega Communities chairman Jim Hazel said the new estate will be located right next to the Lucas shopping centre and surrounded by parks and wetlands, in close proximity  to medical and community facilities.

“Now we have the green light, we will be launching early in 2016 and encourage anyone that wants to know more, to register their interest now,” he said.

The starting price for a dwelling will be $230,000. 

Construction is expected to begin early next year.

For more information call Michael Cameron 0438 048 729 or email lucas@gannongroup.com.au