Ai Consultancy provides a solution focused, professional and personalised service.
© Copyright Ai Consultancy (Aust). 2026.
All Rights Reserved. Created by Codex Digital.
Lutanda Manor Retirement Village: Accessibility Compliance & Performance Solutions
Access compliance solutions for the redevelopment of an existing two-storey retirement village.
The Challenge
The redevelopment of the existing building triggered Affected Part upgrade requirements under the Premises Standards.
Because of the building’s structure and layout, full Deemed-to-Satisfy compliance was not possible in some areas. This affected things like accessible unit provision, door circulation spaces, and turning spaces at the ends of accessways.
The main challenge was to address these issues while still allowing the redevelopment to move forward within the limits of the existing building and site.
AI Consultancy’s Approach
AI Consultancy supported the project from design review through to construction and completion, offering access consulting services for the retirement village.
- Design reviewWe reviewed the design to find any access compliance issues and to see where the building’s existing features made standard compliance difficult.
- Performance SolutionsAI Consultancy created specific Performance Solutions for each issue found, making sure they met Performance Requirement D1P1. We developed solutions based on how the retirement village operates and what its residents need. These included:
- Automating doors where this removed the need for compliant circulation space
- Addressing reduced accessible unit provision
- Demonstrating suitable turning space arrangements at accessway dead-ends
- Construction inspectionsAI Consultancy inspected the site during construction to check that access provisions and Performance Solutions were being put in place correctly.
- CompletionAt the end of the project, we provided Access Completion Statements after finishing the design review and construction inspections.
Design review → Performance Solutions → Construction inspection → Completion. With this approach, access compliance was part of every stage, not just something checked at the end.
Technical Compliance Framework
The assessment considered the requirements applicable to the redevelopment, including:
- BCA/NCC Part D4 and F4 access provisions
- Performance Requirement D1P1
- Disability (Access to Premises—Buildings) Standards 2010, including applicable Affected Part requirements
- AS 1428.1
- AS 2890.6
This set the technical framework for creating BCA Performance Solutions in NSW that addressed the unique challenges of the existing building.
Accessibility Within an Existing Retirement Village
When redeveloping an existing retirement village, it’s important to balance accessibility needs with the building’s physical features and how it’s already being used.
Existing structures may limit opportunities to achieve every Deemed-to-Satisfy provision through conventional design changes. Performance Solutions can provide an alternative pathway to demonstrate the relevant Performance Requirements.
For Lutanda Manor, we based our solutions on how the building functions as a retirement village and on the needs of its residents and operations.
Outcome
We developed a set of Performance Solutions to address each compliance issue, which allowed the redevelopment to move forward and meet Performance Requirement D1P1, even with the building’s limitations. This approach made it possible to achieve:
- Compliance without costly structural alterations to the existing building.
- Design-based solutions to address departures, including door automation.
- Accessibility tailored to the retirement village’s operational and resident needs.
- Progression of the redevelopment within the existing site and building constraints.
Accessibility Compliance for Retirement and Aged-Care Projects
AI Consultancy offers accessibility compliance services for aged care, such as access design reviews, Performance Solutions, Premises Standards assessments, construction inspections, and completion statements for retirement and aged-care projects.
Resolve Accessibility Challenges Within Your Existing Building
We offer access reviews, Performance Solutions, and compliance support for retirement and aged-care developments.
Discuss Your Project →Frequently Asked Questions
Often, yes. New work must meet the current BCA access provisions, and under the Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standards, it can also trigger Affected Part upgrades. That’s usually the path of travel from the principal pedestrian entrance to the new work. At Lutanda Manor, redeveloping the east wing triggered these requirements, so an early access review set out exactly what had to be upgraded.
A Performance Solution can provide a compliant alternative. Instead of forcing the building to fit a standard provision, the consultant shows how the design meets the relevant Performance Requirement, such as D1P1. At Lutanda Manor, this approach resolved each departure through design rather than costly structural alterations.
In some cases, yes. Where the existing layout leaves no room for the required circulation space, automating the door can remove the need for it, subject to a Performance Solution. Door automation was one of the design-based solutions used at Lutanda Manor.
It can, where a Performance Solution shows the outcome still meets the Performance Requirements. The assessment considers how the village operates and what its residents actually need. At Lutanda Manor, reduced accessible unit provision was addressed this way, with solutions based on the village’s operations and resident needs.
The main ones are:
- the BCA/NCC access provisions in Parts D4 and F4
- Performance Requirement D1P1
- the Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standards 2010, including Affected Part requirements
- AS 1428.1 for design for access and mobility
- AS 2890.6 for accessible car parking
Which provisions apply depends on the building classification and the scope of work.
At the design stage, before layouts are locked in. An early design review identifies where the existing building makes standard compliance difficult, while there’s still time to plan Performance Solutions. On Lutanda Manor, we supported the project from design review through construction inspections to Access Completion Statements.
Send the project address, a short description of the work (new build, redevelopment or refurbishment), the current design stage and any drawings you have. We’ll review the scope and come back with a fee proposal covering the access services your project needs, from design review through to completion.
