HBB Swaps Office for Student Digs in Sydney’s Uni Precinct

HBB is proposing another co-living scheme for an Ultimo student neighbourhood under a $45.5-million application now open for comment. The site at 86-90 Bay Street was acquired by HBB in 2022 and received approval for adaptive re-use into a six-storey commercial building in 2023 . Design on that project would have been 9B-compliant under the National Construction Code, allowing classrooms as well as offices. But HBB now believes that demolition and redevelopment into an eight-storey, 137-unit student digs will make a better fit for the area that fringes the University of Sydney, UTS, Sydney TAFE and Notre Dame campuses. The building would also directly front the main entrance of the Broadway shopping centre. HBB development director Chris Lykoudis told The Urban Developer that the scheme and room types were “versatile and able to cater to both students and co-living guests”. “There is strong demand for this product because it’s flexible, convenient and attainable. In this market, it presents a higher and better use than offices,” Lykoudis said. The 1011sq m site on the edge of the Sydney CBD would yield gross floor area of 4550sq m, at a floor space ratio of 4.5:1. Communal open space of 305sq m, communal living space of 295sq m, and amenities would include a central courtyard, shared laundry facilities, and co-working spaces. ▲ Units and spaces at the project would be appropriate for both co-living and student use, Lykoudis said. While HBB’s 2023 approval was for adaptive re-use of the existing four-storey building, Lykoudis told The Urban Developer that it was “detracting from the heritage buildings on either side, so the proposal is both in keeping with and complementary to the streetscape”. “We are retaining the existing lower-ground basement to allow us to locate some of the new building services, as well as space for car-sharing facilities and other ancillary uses.” The Fitzpatrick &amp; Partners-designed project would allocate bicycle parking internally (142 spaces) and along Bay Street (14 spaces), but no private car parking would be retained. A deal with GoGet will mean two car share spaces are allocated to the project, along with an accessible parking space and three service bays. The City of Sydney council has confirmed that a “wheel-out” garbage pick-up is acceptable, due to the constrained nature of the site. Education precinct can absorb more PBSA HBB is already pursuing a co-living scheme in the area, at 19-21 Buckland Street , but thinks that the suburb and the sector can absorb more. Lykoudis told The Urban Developer that HBB is “actively pursuing opportunities” for more PBSA and co-living projects. ▲ The project's entrance would be directly opposite the main entrance of the Broadway shopping centre. “We are concentrating in that precinct [around UTS and USyd] but open to opportunities in other areas and cities as well,” Lykoudis said. Among other PBSA players, Unilodge, Scape, and Iglu are currently operating facilities in the Broadway precinct. Weave Living has also lodged modifications for an approved 77-room boarding house nearby, at 49 Greek Street and 7 Franklyn Street at Glebe. That $12.5-million project will require design changes for constructability, according to the application, including the replacement of a laundry room with washing machines in each unit. Across the road from the Broadway shopping centre, approval was granted in September 2025 for a five-storey, 1058-bed backpacker hostel at 184-200 Broadway . That project is being pursued by Rino Criola, who also owns the neighbouring Lansdowne Hotel.

HBB Swaps Office for Student Digs in Sydney’s Uni Precinct

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HBB Swaps Office for Student Digs in Sydney’s Uni Precinct

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