A surge in amenity is on its way at Bowden, as the precinct steps up its delivery of services befitting a complete live, work, play, eat, shop lifestyle.

From Monday 1 August, the precinct’s first early learning centre will open its doors – the beginning of a flurry of value-add activity expected across the precinct during the next 18 months.

The multi-storey centre, developed by South Australian, family-run building development firm Emmett and operated by Green Leaves Early Learning, will be one of South Australia’s most state-of-the-art early learning and care facilities, complete with a dedicated chef, culinary lesson space, outdoor and water play zones, bike tracks, art room and a grab-and-go coffee lounge for parents and carers.

It has been custom-designed by Adelaide-based architects Aplin Cook Gardner to meet the evolving learning needs of children from six weeks to six years of age and will cater for up to 112 children. It is conveniently located on the corner of Park Terrace and Second Street, just metres from the Bowden Train Station.

Three new ground floor retail offerings will be located below the centre, along with a 34-space car park. These include an EFM gym, Star Laundromat, and a modern Asian restaurant called Bobibao, which will offer breakfast and lunch dining from late August with dinner service to follow.

Renewal SA Senior Director of Residential, Shane Wingard, said with most of the residential lots in the precinct now allocated for development, the focus had shifted to delivering services and amenity that enhances the lives of residents and visitors.

“Having quality childcare in the precinct has become a critical part of taking Bowden to the next level,” Mr Wingard said.

“As Bowden grows, so too does its community, so we’re at a point where we are now consolidating the commercial aspects of the precinct to meet and support their needs with a true lifestyle-oriented development.

“The early learning centre’s location within walking distance of homes and the Plant 3 and Plant 4 hospitality hubs, will make it particularly attractive to families living in the precinct and to workers of office and retail outlets that will soon be moving in.”

Mr Wingard said a genuine high street would emerge along Third Street in the coming years as office and retail projects came to fruition.

Green Leaves Early Learning Chief Executive Officer, Mark McDonald-Smith, said Bowden was selected as the location of the company’s latest centre because it was a growth suburb that aligned with its guiding principles.

“There are many ways we foster community and connection at our centres, but we have a particular focus on encouraging children to protect and cherish the natural world around them,” Mr McDonald-Smith said.

“Having the centre spread across three levels also brings unique appeal for our families, particularly the children, who I understand will have an amazing bird's-eye view of the trains as they roll through the nearby station, and the planes overhead.

“The Green Leaves Early Learning Centre space follows an eco-conscious design, which includes close to 1,000sqm of landscaped outdoor play space and raised vegetable gardens,” explained Mr McDonald-Smith.

The project is one of two developments currently being undertaken by Emmett at Bowden following its successful completion of the Merchant and Park Central apartments in 2015 and 2018 respectively.

Nick Emmett, Managing Director of Emmett, said agreements were being finalised with anchor tenants for its seven-storey commercial office building at 6 Park Terrace – one of the first to be built in Bowden.

Site preparation and works on the architecturally designed, $55 million development are set to begin in November.

The anchor tenants will take up almost half of the available building space in the 12,000sqm development, which also features onsite carparking, a recreation deck and barbecue, and end of trip facilities.

“These companies were attracted to Bowden because it has all the benefits of being close to the city without the pressure of travel times,” Mr Emmett said. “Bowden delivers easy access to public transport, cycling tracks and great outdoor spaces, while the building delivers quality design.

“Plus, there is huge exposure for these businesses along Park Terrace which has more than 50,000 vehicles pass along it every day.

“It’s also a drawcard for their staff with the Plant 4 and Plant 3 entertainment precincts right across the street and, of course, childcare facilities that will make their transition to the area a smooth one.”

Twenty-five jobs were created during construction of the early learning centre. At full capacity, the centre will employ approximately 50 staff.

Green Leaves currently has six centres in SA, with new facilities at West Lakes and Pasadena also nearing completion. It has 46 centres nationally.

Green Leaves Child Care Centre is located at 1 Second Street, Bowden.

For more visit www.greenleaveselc.com.au/centre/bowden/