Development Victora to sell land for apartments, including affordable housing

Social housing will make up part of a new apartment building in Coburg. But how much will be included in the preferred 12-storey site remains unknown.

Vacant land on Sydney Rd, Coburg will soon be home for a new apartment building. Picture: Hamish Blair

A Sydney Rd tower is set to provide more affordable housing to Coburg.

Development Victoria closed expressions of interest for developers and community housing associations to purchase land at 541 Sydney Rd on March 29.

19-STOREY SKYSCRAPER SET FOR COBURG

MORELAND NAMED DANGEROUS CLADDING CAPITAL

CONCRETE WALL BUILT METRES FROM APARTMENTS

An apartment building is set to be built on the site, preferably built to 36m height or about 12-storeys.

Development Victoria group head of property development Neil Anderson said applicants were encouraged to maximise social and affordable housing.

“This site is ideally located for an affordable housing development as it is close to public transport, schools and other community services,” he said.

The site was home to a fabric dying factory. Picture: Hamish Blair

A brochure provided to applicants doesn’t provide a fixed percentage of homes to be used as affordable housing but states applicants who provide a guaranteed minimum number of homes rather than a maximum in this price range would be looked upon favourably.

Moreland Council acting city futures director Phillip Priest said the council had been involved in multiple discussions about the site and recognised the need for more social housing.

A fabric dying factory formally stood on the site, which left the soil contaminated and requiring environmental remediation.

Development Victoria hopes to agree to terms for the site by October.