Proposed 800-home precinct in Melbourne fast-tracked for approval

A $780 million redevelopment proposal to transform Richmond’s Victoria Gardens shopping centre precinct into more than 800 homes has been fast-tracked.

Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny jointly announced on 14 May that the state government had greenlighted the project, designed by Cox Architecture and NH Architecture. The redevelopment will see 827 new homes being constructed, with 10 percent dedicated to affordable housing.

The expansion proposal includes the development of six buildings between six and 12 storeys, featuring a mix of one to three-bedroom apartments. The project will also involve the reformation of an existing section of the 20-year-old shopping centre into a new market hall comprising retail outlets, commercial spaces and a new underground car park.

The updated precinct aims to create a welcoming atmosphere through the inclusion of active street frontages, civic plazas and open-air laneways. The site, bound by Victoria Street, River Boulevard, and Burnley and Doonside streets, will span 5.2 hectares.

The proposal was submitted into the Victorian government’s Development Facilitation Program, which streamlines the planning process for priority projects that boost investment into the state’s economy, provide significant employment opportunities and deliver more housing.

Premier Jacinta Allan said the housing development is in a prime Melbourne location. “We’ve fast-tracked the Victoria Gardens expansion to ensure more than 800 homes can be built for Victorians right in the heart of Richmond in an area close to jobs, transport, services and shops,” she said. “Nothing is more important than a roof over your head and we’re making sure there are more affordable housing choices for our kids where they want to live.”

A developer partnership comprising Salta Properties and Vicinity Parnters, which co-own Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre, purchased the site, encompassing two plots, in 2019.