Melbourne universities unite to help plan for affordable housing around Suburban Rail Loop sites

Investigative drilling has started on the ambitious Suburban Rail Loop project, which is decades away from opening. But universities are already thinking about how the metro line could be exploited for affordable housing.

A plan to create affordable high density housing around stations on the future Suburban Rail Loop is being hatched by Melbourne’s top universities.

University researchers will work with developers and other property industry experts to find solutions to optimise land use for linked precincts.

“The challenge is to provide liveable precincts with affordable housing in ways that retain the most cherished qualities of those suburbs and streets,” says a project blueprint.

Map of proposed Suburban Rail Loop. Image: Supplied

The $50 billion Suburban Rail Loop is an ambitious 30-year project that would see a metro line connecting 14 middle-ring areas from Cheltenham to Werribee via Melbourne Airport.

Melbourne, Monash, RMIT and Swinburne universities have united to use the globally-recognised IBA model to work out best housing options along the rail loop.

The Andrews Government has provided seed funding for the project, which was launched recently at the Housing Futures conference.

Project head Prof Alan Pert, director of Melbourne University’s Melbourne School of Design, said a key issue was providing the extra 1.6 million homes that Melbourne will need by 2051 amid huge population growth.

Melbourne universities want innovative housing solutions for the rail loop project.

“The market has slowed for one- and two-bedroom apartments, there is more demand for family apartments and rental,” he said.

“It’s a major commitment from the government to do these suburban rail precincts - it’s a major public transport opportunity — but we think they should be looking at housing and infrastructure along with transport.”

Prof Pert said his team would look at available land, including property owned by councils, VicTrack and industrial sites.

“There will be stuff getting rezoned at some point, but before that happens you want to have a clear idea about how we’re going to shape the public good,” he said.

“You’re bringing developers to the table, but you’re saying to them you’re going to have to deliver x-amount of affordable housing.”

Premier Daniel Andrews (left) inspects plans for the suburban rail loop.

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“We can’t afford to be working in four-year government cycles, the housing problem is something we need to look at long term.”

A key part of the project will see 100 students from the universities given the challenge of coming up with solutions across planning, architecture and urban design.

Prof Pert said overseas examples included home furniture giant Ikea developing public land but returning 35 per cent of dwellings as affordable housing to the local council.

A local study being looked at involves how a carpark site in the City of Moreland could host affordable densified housing.

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