Escalating costs derailed the original design and construction schedule for a large long term care complex in Lantzville (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

Plan B

Lantzville long term care complex revised, construction delayed

Sep 8, 2025 | 5:29 AM

LANTZVILLE — Rising costs forced Island Health into producing new plans for a large 306-bed long-term care home on Lantzville’s southern edge.

As a result, the health authority acknowledged an initial projection of completing construction in 2027 won’t be met, confirmed Diane McKay, chief project officer for long term care for Island Health.

“We’ve completely re-designed the site and the building to make it more efficient on the site and reduce the costs associated with our project,” McKay told NanaimoNewsNOW at a recent open house at Lantzville’s Costin Hall.

Island Health now envisions the care home complex to feature two, six-storey towers on a reduced footprint, as opposed to the initial plan of several smaller buildings.

Conceptual new-look rendering of an envisioned complex care facility in south Lantzville. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Upward density and a more efficient floor plan will allow for a more optimized clinical workflow, McKay said, who emphasized the prior approved business plan of 306 care beds is not being changed.

Island Health envisions 20 “households” at the large undeveloped lot, with each such household containing 14 living units.

“We’re trying to make it as homelike as possible, so when people come, they’ve got their own resident room and ensuite bathroom, but they’ve still got a sense of community by having shared dining, living, community and art spaces.”

Representing far more than a retirement home, hospice care, childcare and adult day programing will also be offered.

A hair salon, corner store hobby shop and Indigenous sacred space are other planned amenities.

McKay said disease prevention is another important planning consideration.

“Our design enables us in the event of any type of an outbreak to isolate people to their households or to a wing but still maintain access to the childcare and the adult day program because they have their own independent access.”

In addition to obtaining necessary approvals from the District of Lantzville, McKay said their revised design and final cost estimates require endorsements from Island Health’s capital project board and the B.C. government.

“If we get started next year the likely completion of construction would be more likely either late 2028 or some time in 2029.”

A representative with Stantec Architecture explains features of a revised long term care complex to be built in Lantzville. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

The project received funding approval of $286 million, with the B.C. government’s share via Island Health coming in at $171.5 million, while the Nanaimo Regional Hospital District is supplying $114 million.

About 170 parking spots are projected for the Lantzville care home project, which includes a two-storey parkade.

The main entrance is planned off Schook Rd. across from May Richards Bennett Pioneer Park, while a secondary access point will be established off Lantzville Rd.

While the District of Lantzville began the rezoning and official community bylaw amendment process for the long-term care project early last year, changes in the scope of the project means the process needs to re-start.

George Robinson, District of Lantzville’s director of planning and community services, told NanaimoNewsNOW he expects Island Health will present its revised plan by later this or early next year.

Robinson stated District staff will also request a report from the health authority on three recent engagement events held at Costin Hall.

Island Health is embarking on three similar Vancouver Island long term care projects representing over 750 new beds, with initiatives in Colwood and Campbell River also being revised due to cost pressures.

B.C’s seniors’ advocate Dan Leavitt filed an alarming report in late July regarding a lack of supply and long wait times for publicly subsidized long-term care beds in the province.

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