The Southern Joint Regional Planning Panel will vote whether to back changes to the design and layout of the proposed development when it meets in Shellharbour on Tuesday.

The project, to be constructed on the former golf course site, was approved by the panel in 2012, allowing 98 independent living units spread across six buildings and a 128-bed aged care facility.

Now, the aged care provider wants to change the layout and number of independent living units, proposing  that 47 are built in two three-storey blocks along Harbour Boulevarde, and 33 single-storey villas  next to Cutter Parade.

There would also be six serviced independent living units on the ground floor of the residential aged care facility.

The total number of car parks in the complex would be 177, down from 187, while the total building floor area would be reduced by about 1500square metres.

Warrigal says this will ‘‘provide a more functional design and layout’’.

According to the documents before the planning panel, the development would be built in three stages, starting in March.

The aged care facility would be complete by February 2017,  and the villas would be finished by March that year.

The new plans went on public exhibition in July last year, with 25 residents objecting because of  concerns about the number of construction vehicles travelling through residential areas.

However, in a report to the  planning panel, council staff said they believed ‘‘there [was] enough evidence that the option to use the local roads of Shell Cove [was] low’’.

They said  between three and 25 trucks would travel to and from the site each day.

Residents of  houses along the site’s access roads  would  be sent letters advising them of the dates and times that the roads would be used, the documents said.

In recommending the project be approved, the council also said a higher than allowable building height and floor space  ratio should be approved.

The site lent itself to a higher density because of a  future commercial and retail precinct which would be developed nearby.

‘‘Furthermore, the site plays an important role as a gateway site into the Shell Cove release area...[and] does not negatively impact on the surrounding residential neighbourhood,’’ the recommendation said.

The  planning panel meeting will be held at Shellharbour City Council chambers at 12pm.