Norwest development: Plans for private hospital to replace Rydges Hotel

A hotel could soon be transformed into a private hospital after development plans with a new $43 million proposal for this northwest Sydney boom area.

The fate of the Rydges Hotel at 1 Columbia Ct, Norwest, is once again uncertain as development plans, valued at just over $43 million, call for the conversion of the existing hotel into a private hospital.

The plans, lodged by Visy Dior, an affiliated company of Merc Capital, seek to transform this 2.27ha site — situated on the corner of Windsor Road and Norwest Boulevarde.

The proposed location is in an area undergoing marked redevelopment, with the state government expecting Norwest to be a vibrant commercial centre, providing an additional 15,000 jobs by 2036.

It is just south of the multi-storey Hills Shire Council public administration building, childcare centre and medical centre, and is surrounding by various commercial offices and ground floor cafes.

It is also about 800m from the Sydney Metro Norwest Station.

An artist impression of the private hospital by Space For Health for Visy Dior, an affiliated company of Merc Capital.

Three years ago, Merc Capital acquired the hotel, formally known as “Novotel Norwest” and rebranded it as a Rydges.

In 2019, The Hills Shire Times reported on a failed bid by Merc Capital to replace the Rydges Hotel with four residential and commercial towers, ranging from 24-28 storeys high.

The existing Rydges Hotel Norwest could be tranformed into a private hosptial. Picture: Google

Now, Visy Dior is seeking to convert this building into a hospital — plans which would expand the ground floor, add a sixth storey, a new two-level carpark and pedestrian bridge, and an expansion of the existing on-grade carpark.

Planning documents reveal the proposed hospital’s ground floor would include a pharmacy, cafe, main dining area and a hydrotherapy pool.

The first floor would also feature two outdoor terraces, one for all hospital users and the other for staff, totally approximately 1600sq m, with seating, tables and landscaping.

The developer’s plans also state “no trees around the site perimeter are intended to be removed.”

The developer plans to retain the existing trees and vegetation around the perimeter and parking area.

“The proposed hospital development has a positive social impact by contributing to the supply of health services infrastructure,” the developer’s plans state.

“(It) would contribute to … meeting the health needs of the community in the district which is critical to maintaining a liveable city.”

There are plans to transform the Hills into Sydney’s new health epicentre

As part of an emerging health epicentre, plans also stress the addition of a hospital in Norwest would “provide the opportunity for health care professionals and workers living in northwest Sydney to be close to their place of employment”.

“The proposed hospital development would … increase productivity and employment … in the Norwest strategic centre,” planning documents reveal.

Merc Capital, the parent company of Visy Dior, has been approached for comment.

Visy Dior will need to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before the application is determined by the NSW Planning Department.