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