4.6 Former Rachel Forster Hospital - Draft

The former Rachel Forster Hospital site is located at 150 Pitt Street. It is bounded by Albert Street to the north, residential development to the south, Pitt Street to the east and a warehouse and residential development to the west.

Existing characteristics

The site has an area of approximately 0.7 hectares and is occupied by various buildings. A two to three storey building fronts Albert Street which is linked to a central two storey wing. The central wing links to a five storey buildings extending along the southern boundary and fronting Pitt Street.

The whole site is identified as a heritage item in the South Sydney Local Environmental Plan. The five storey building on Pitt Street is identified as an example of Inter-War functionalist style hospital building.

The Hospital closed in 2003 when staff and facilities were transferred to the nearby Prince Alfred Hospital in Camperdown. A medical centre currently operates from the building fronting Albert Street.

The site is surrounded by residential development. Development along Pitt Street and Albert Street is characterised by two storey terrace houses. The southern boundary of the site is adjoined by a modern residential development up to four storeys in height.

Existing land use zone

The site is zoned ‘Special Uses – Hospital’ under the South Sydney Local Environmental Plan. Permissible uses within the zone are restricted to hospital and supporting uses, as well as permissible uses in adjacent zones (in this case residential zone).

Proposed land use concept

Predominantly residential development consistent with the surrounding land uses. Provide the opportunity for community uses in keeping with the residential use.

Figure 4.11 [382 KB] illustrates the proposed land use concept for the site.

Proposed design concept

Respect the character of existing development and development on Albert and Pitt Streets and provide an appropriate interface with adjoining and surrounding residential development by:

• providing a three storey height limit to Albert Street in response to the scale of terrace housing which dominates this street

• allowing buildings of up to five storeys consistent with the height of existing buildings

• locating on site car parking at basement level

• ensuring new development responds to the predominant terrace house typology along Albert and Pitt Streets, with a contemporary interpretation.

Protect the heritage of the site by:

• ensuring new development responds sensitively to significant heritage items

• encouraging, where practical, the adaptive re-use of significant heritage items associated with the former hospital use

• encouraging the reinterpretation of heritage through the reuse of heritage materials and fabric in any redevelopment.

Ensure the provision of open space:

• as part of any new development, including private and communal spaces for use by future occupants of the site

• for all new dwellings

• that has good solar access

• with quality landscaping to reinforce the landscape setting of the site and Pitt Street.

Orientate new development towards Pitt Street and Albert Street to provide surveillance of the public spaces for improved safety.

The proposed heights and floor space ratio for the site are illustrated in Diagram 4.12 [385 KB].

Proposed land use zone

Residential Zone - Medium Density Residential