The Scottsdale establishment has been home to independent living retirees for the past 51 years.

Robin Thompson, chairman of the board of Northbourne Park Association, said that three years ago the not-for-profit organisation acquired more land immediately surrounding the village that had been left vacant since.

He said the space will now be used to extend the community-owned property, which is currently home to 68 villas that house about 96 elderly people.

"Hopefully over the next five to 10 years the number of villas will reach 136," he said.

"Half of those will be rentals and the other half will be leased properties."

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Mr Thompson said the idea for the expansion came purely through demand.

"Living in the village is alluring to older people because it allows them to still live independently, but in a circumstance where they have far less worries," he said.

"It offers them the chance to be rid of the constant hassle of maintaining their dwellings."

He said the funds needed to take on this task came from the money that Northbourne had been able to accumulate over time. He said that this was possible through profit made when properties on the land were sold as well as from the benevolence of organisations such as the Rotary Club.

Karl and Nola Beattie were the first couple to commence building on the site. Mrs Beattie said they have been waiting for three years to get a spot in the village and are glad the upgrade has finally made room for them.

"We weren't in any hurry at first, but we are now," she said.

"It's very exciting, we've lived in our current house for 60 years and we're ready for a downsize."

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Mr Beattie said the build commenced about a month ago, but has since been held up due to Australia's current shortage of building material caused by a global increase in demand. He is hopeful the villa will be completed by February next year.

The company in charge of their build is DJ Building Contractors. Director David Crack said he is a third-generation builder who is a Scottsdale native.

"My father and grandfather both actually built houses for Northbourne way back in the day, so it's nice to kind of keep the tradition going," he said.

Administrator at Northbourne Park Retirement Village, Donna Roach, said DJ Construction will be contracted for the first six builds or two years, whichever comes first, then it will go back out to tender.

The current civil contractor is Cain Civil Contracting.

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