Once home to Redfern's Aboriginal community, The Block is set to become a university student hub, under revised plans lodged by the Aboriginal Housing Company for the area's redevelopment.

More than 500 students will live in new student accommodation which, in a marked departure from the original plans, will increase in size from six to 16 storeys at the building's highest point.

The revised concept plans for the Pemulwuy Project, the name of the $70 million dollar development of The Block, almost quadruples the provision of student accommodation from the original 152 student places initially proposed.

AHC chairperson Alisi Tutuila said the changes were necessary to ensure the other aspects of the development - namely the provision of 62 affordable homes for indigenous people - could be built without having to rely on further government funding or grants.