Updated designs for Crows Nest over-station development

The proponents of a three-tower over-station development in Sydney's Crows Nest have announced plans to create affordable housing for key and essential healthcare workers in the area.

The Woods Bagot-designed proposal, to be located on Pacific Highway above a future Crows Nest Metro station, was first approved by the then-planning minister Rob Stokes in 2021. The original concept proposal called for a 27-storey residential tower with 318 apartments on the largest site (A) between Oxley Street to the north-west and Hume Street to the south-east.

In the approved concept, the tower at site A was changed from residential to commercial and its height reduced to 21 storeys.

Now, the proponents want to again amend the proposal to a mixed-use tower with 15 percent affordable housing for the healthcare and service staff of the nearby Royal North Shore Hospital, as well as private housing, retail and commercial spaces.

Developers Third I and Phoenix Property Investors are partnering with Evolve Housing to deliver affordable rental housing for local workers in the healthcare sector.

Their demographic research found that healthcare and service staff in the local area commute between 30 to 50 kilometres every day, while some workers at the Royal North Shore Hospital spend up to 58 percent of their salary to live in studio accommodation in the local area.

Evolve Housing will work with the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives Association and Health Services Union on allocation of affordable housing.

"Should the project be approved, it will offer frontline workers a new benchmark of affordable and convenient inner city living; close to transport hubs, amenities and major hospitals in the Northern Sydney Local Health District," said Third I director and co-founder Robersons Huxley. "Frontline health workers, cleaning and catering staff working at local hospitals will all benefit from the affordable housing options, greatly-reduced travel times and improved work-life balance."