Urban Digest

Camperdown Build to Rent Tower Replaces Hospital Plan

January 22, 2026

Architectural render of the proposed development at Pyrmont Bridge and Parramatta Road.

Plans for a 22-storey build-to-rent tower at the corner of Pyrmont Bridge Road and Parramatta Road in Annandale are now on public exhibition. The application has been lodged as State Significant Development (SSD-84024470) and seeks concurrent rezoning approval through the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) pathway.

The site, spanning 2,570sqm, sits at the western edge of the Camperdown precinct. It occupies a prominent position within the Tech Central innovation corridor and lies close to major institutions such as the University of Sydney and RPA Hospital. Proposed light rail upgrades and frequent bus services add to its strategic appeal.

If approved, the tower would deliver 281 build-to-rent apartments above a 656sqm retail podium. The application marks the first major residential proposal for the site under the HDA process and would set a new benchmark for height and density in the area.

From Health Hub to Housing: A Site Recast

Authorities rezoned the land to B5 Business Development in May 2023, enabling a 35-metre height limit and 4:1 floor space ratio. These controls were designed to support health, education, and creative sector uses.

In January 2025, a hospital project received approval under SSD-59354958. However, it failed to proceed after four years of active marketing failed to attract an operator. In response, the developer lodged a new residential scheme through the HDA’s accelerated housing assessment pathway.

The current proposal seeks to rezone the site again—to permit shop top housing and increase allowable height to 80 metres and FSR to 7.52:1. This represents more than double the existing controls.

Architectural plan drawing for the proposed mixed-use development at Pyrmont Bridge and Parramatta Road. — Architectural plans outlining the design for the 22-storey mixed-use tower at Pyrmont Bridge and Parramatta Road.

Urban Design and Built Form

The proposed design includes a three-storey podium, above which the 19-storey tower rises. Architects placed the tower on the western side of the site, creating a 20-metre setback to the east. This move allows for future development on adjacent sites and aims to reduce overshadowing and bulk when viewed from surrounding streets.

The proponent describes the building as a “gateway marker” for the Camperdown precinct and argues it reflects the area’s future density, as outlined in strategic planning documents such as the Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy.

A Targeted Build-to-Rent Model

The tower adopts a build-to-rent format, in line with state policy to expand rental housing options near major employment centres. More than half of the apartments are studios, with most of the remainder comprising one-bedroom dwellings. The mix targets students, key workers, and younger renters.

The development includes just 44 car spaces—about one per 6.4 dwellings—but provides 177 bicycle spaces. A Green Travel Plan will support sustainable transport use, and the site benefits from existing bus routes and proximity to future public transport upgrades.

Submissions Invited

The proposal is now on public exhibition, with documents available for review on the Department of Planning’s website. Community members, stakeholders, and agencies are invited to make submissions.

The application’s outcome will be closely watched. It may set a precedent for future density, land use, and public benefit delivery across the Camperdown precinct and the broader Tech Central corridor.