HammondCare’s Greenwich Hospital redevelopment under way

New images have offered a glimpse of a $210m mega hospital redevelopment that will turn a “dated 1960s facility” into a more “homely” precinct on the north shore over the next five years.

An artist’s impression of the River Rd complex.

The contentious Greenwich Hospital redevelopment is rapidly taking shape, with new images revealing how the final project will look when works round up by 2030.

Independent Christian charity HammondCare’s new health campus on River Rd will include palliative care, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services, pain management, dementia care and treatment for older people’s mental health.

Seniors with chronic health conditions who want to live independently can live in units with 24-7 health services provided by a sub-acute hospital.

The dwellings and services will be housed in buildings to replace the demolish existing hospital and preservation of the heritage-listed two-storey Pallister House, which will continue to host research and administrative functions.

The new main hospital will host 130 beds (52 more than the existing site) and two new seniors living blocks will have 89 units.

Stage 1 is expected to be ready by 2026.

The hospital will be seven storeys above a three-storey basement, the seniors north building will be up to five storeys while the south building will reach up to six levels. The respite building – to be built under stage 4 – will be up to three storeys.

There will be a total of 329 parking spaces.

The site sits on 95-115 River Rd.

The facility also includes overnight respite in the project which planning documents state “shifts away from the institutional design model” and instead represents a “homely environment for clients” which is well integrated with the wider community.

HammondCare general manager of property Michael Cooney said stage 1 was expected to wrap up early next year with completion of all works by 2030.

“HammondCare is proceeding with its vision to transform Greenwich Hospital from a dated 1960s facility into an integrated health campus with specialised health services for seniors and others with complex health care needs,’’ he said.

Stage 1 of the four-pronged project is in progress and includes upgrading utilities such as power, water and communications. Completion of stage 1 is expected in early 2026.

There will be 89 units for seniors.

The Independent Planning Commission approved a concept design for the health campus in November 2020 and in March 2024 a detailed design was approved.

However, it has drawn myriad objections from the public including concerns over privacy impacts, the size and height of buildings – which were initially planned to be up to 10 storeys – traffic and congestion, and the construction time frame being too long.

A rooftop terrace is part of the new health and seniors living precinct.

The impact it would have on Greenwich Public School opposite the site also generated objections.

HammondCare said it has shortened the construction time to minimise and the building of the seniors blocks will be built concurrently and the facility would meet the needs of an ageing community.

The number of people aged 65 or older in northern Sydney expected to increase to 18 per cent of the population by 2031.

The need for specialist dementia care is estimated to double in NSW by 2051.

Mr Cooney said works proceeded according to approved conditions to manage and mitigate impacts, including traffic management plans and construction and noise.

“HammondCare been committed to best-practice community engagement and consultation, resulting in significant project modifications, since first announcing the hospital redevelopment in 2017,’’ he said.