Tall & Urban News

The Victorian government recently announced its plan to demolish and redevelop 44 high-rise public housing towers, making it Australia's largest urban renewal project. The objective of this project is to provide more social and affordable housing to meet the increasing demand. These buildings, constructed between the 1950s and 1970s, are considered outdated and no longer suitable for modern living standards.

According to the Victorian government, the towers do not meet current building codes in various aspects such as noise, sustainability, waste and recycling, bedroom area dimensions, room depth, ventilation, private open space, accessibility, and minimum amenity standards. The estimated cost for critical capital repairs and maintenance over the next 20 years would be $2.3 billion, approximately $55 million per tower. However, due to their design, many of these homes would still not meet contemporary codes, nationwide energy rating schemes, or accessibility requirements.

The initial phase of the project involves demolishing two towers in Flemington, one in North Melbourne, and two in Carlton. These will be replaced by 1,800 new homes in Flemington and North Melbourne, resulting in a total increase of 503 dwellings. In Carlton, 231 homes will replace the existing 196 apartments, leading to an 18% increase in housing supply.

Premier Daniel Andrews has emphasized that this project represents Australia's largest urban renewal development and will increase social housing by at least 10% across the 44 sites. The aim is to reimagine these spaces and rebuild them into modern, accessible, and comfortable homes that meet the expectations and needs of Victorians.

Currently, approximately 10,000 people reside in these 44 towers. Once the redevelopment is completed, the state government expects this number to increase to 30,000 people. Throughout the process, every tenant in these towers will be guaranteed a home.

Homes Victoria has initiated a community consultation phase, with staff visiting every household in each tower to provide information and support. This consultation will continue, with ongoing presence and support from Homes Victoria staff.

The government's decision to demolish and redevelop the towers has received mixed reactions. While some Victorians support the plan, others, including architects, have criticized it for not considering adaptive re-use options.

The 44-tower rebuild is part of the broader housing statement recently unveiled by the Victorian government. The housing statement acknowledges the need for a much larger plan to address the growing population in Melbourne and regional Victoria. It highlights the current inefficiencies in the planning system, with a backlog of planning permit applications and an increase in planning disputes. The government aims to create a planning system that is efficient, transparent, and accountable, working in collaboration with the people it serves.

Read more about this story at Architecture AU