Block 2027 will convert three listed buildings at Jacksons Hill in Sunbury into five competition homes and a separate All-Stars renovation.
The bloc’s 2027 plans are already facing headwinds after repeated cases of water damage and subfloor problems were discovered at the former mental asylum it bought earlier this month.
New planning documents reveal the show wants to respond by adding a pool to each of the six houses to be built at Sunbury Mental Hospital in Jacksons Hill, which have stood empty for 15 years.
Filings lodged with Heritage Victoria last week also revealed that entrants will not be on a level playing field as there is a gap of 97 square meters between the largest and smallest homes, which is larger than many apartments.
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Their proposed House 4 would span approximately 615 square feet once a proposed pavilion and garage are added, while House 3 would have a total area of approximately 518 square feet.
House 5 would be on the largest plot of land with around 4,312 m², including outdoor space.
The plans are part of a monument approval application and are not final.
But the documents provide the clearest picture yet of what participants will face when The Block begins work in the new year.
Nine has confirmed that five new teams will renovate three historic buildings, which will be divided into six homes.
House 6 is being tackled by returning favorites for a spin-off, The Block: The House Next Door.
The former Sunbury Mental Hospital buildings in Jacksons Hill will be split into six residential units under plans submitted for The Block 2027.
House 1 would have a total area of around 538 m² and, at around 110 m², would have the largest new pavilion of the five competition houses as well as a swimming pool.
If the monument protection application proves successful, House 1 would have a total area of approximately 538 m², House 2 approximately 542 m², House 3 approximately 518 m², House 4 approximately 615 m² and House 5 approximately 577 m².
All five competition houses will have swimming pools and new one-story pavilions with modern living spaces.
The addition to House 1 would be the largest at around 110 m², followed by House 3 with 99 m², House 5 with 93 m² and House 2 with 91 m².
Although House 4 would be the largest house overall, it would have the smallest pavilion at around 45 m².
House 2 is expected to have a total area of approximately 542 m², including a 91 m² new pavilion, with a swimming pool planned next to the listed house.
Block 2027 will take over part of Jacksons Hill in Sunbury, where three historic former hospital buildings are earmarked for major residential redevelopment.
House 3 is also facing one of the most significant changes to its cultural heritage: the pavilion is to be built on the site of a dining room from 1935 that was scheduled to be demolished.
However, the proposal has also raised concerns about whether part of Jacksons Hill should be permanently converted into private housing.
In a letter dated September 24, Hume Mayor Carly Moore told Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny that many residents had questioned whether the proposal was consistent with the intent of the 2018 Jacksons Hill Masterplan.
Cr Moore said Hume supported investment in the site and the restoration of its historic buildings, but warned the proposed conversion “could permanently eliminate opportunities for community, cultural or public uses”.
Hume Mayor Carly Moore has raised concerns about the permanent conversion of part of Jacksons Hill into private housing and has sought talks about the future of the district.
House 3 would have a total area of about 518 square meters, with its 99 square meter pavilion proposed on the site of a 1935 dining room that was slated for demolition.
She requested a meeting with the minister about the application and the future of the entire district.
The separate All-Stars renovation would be another matter.
House 6 would have a total area of approximately 302 m² including the carport, with no plans for a new pavilion or swimming pool. The latest architectural plans call for an in-ground spa instead.
Former Block winner and architect Steph Ottavio says the 2027 challenge could be even more overwhelming after experiencing the All Stars renovation alongside first-time entrants. Image: Instagram/stephjootatvio
Former Block winner and architect Steph Ottavio previously told the Herald Sun that the contrast between experienced renovators and first-time entrants could become part of the spectacle.
“I think it’s pretty awesome to have them both,” Ms. Ottavio said.
However, she warned that the returning stars could also increase the pressure.
House 4 would become the largest of The Block 2027’s competition homes at about 615 square feet, although it would receive the smallest new pavilion at about 45 square feet.
“When you’re doing it, you’re just so overwhelmed by the task. It’s hard to find inspiration along the way,” she said.
“If anything, having All Stars there might be a little overwhelming.”
Participants will also inherit issues that go far beyond styling, stone selection, and interior design.
Investigations revealed that parts of the buildings had little or virtually no underfloor clearance, inadequate ventilation and repeated water leaks into gutters and downspouts.
In some areas, approximately 100 to 300mm of earth may need to be excavated below the existing floors to create enough clearance for ventilation and new services.
House 5 would be located on the largest competition lot at approximately 4,312 m² and would have a total area of approximately 577 m² including the pavilion and garage.
House 6 is the separate All-Stars renovation, with plans calling for a much smaller 302sqm project and an in-ground spa in place of the pools proposed for Houses 1-5.
The heritage assessment said the three buildings had been vacant for more than 15 years and were in poor condition due to neglect, vandalism, vermin and water leaks.
Existing flooring may also need to be removed in large areas, possibly completely, before suitable original material can be restored and restored.
Nine has described the 2027 season as the most ambitious project in The Block’s history.
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