High rises set to soar above 50 suburban hubs as part of housing blitz

High-rise towers are set to soar above 50 public transport hubs across suburban Melbourne under a radical overhaul of planning laws, in a bid to tackle the crippling housing crisis.

Suburban high rises are set to soar above 50 transport hubs across Melbourne under a state government plan to tackle the housing crisis.

Premier Jacinta Allan will today announce the first 25 locations where towers would be encouraged through special new “train and tram zones”.

Developments are likely to be up to 20 storeys high and would pave the way for thousands of extra apartments in suburbs including Oakleigh, Hampton, Brighton, Armadale, West Footscray and Mitcham.

Approvals would be fast-tracked in some areas, stripping councils of planning powers in property hotspots that have access to existing schools and open space.

The announcement today is the first in a 10-day housing initiative blitz by the Allan government which is tipped to include:

• Incentivesfor developers, such as tax concessions;

• Releasinggovernment land for housing developments, and;

• Newzones for regional towns including around rail stations.

The plan is expected to spark strong debate and will set the scene for a housing policy arm wrestle between Labor, the Coalition and the Greens. Picture: Nadir Kinani

Allan govt Activity Centres Map

~ CLICK HERE FOR MAP OF THE 25 ‘TRAIN AND TRAM ZONES’ ~

Under new zones, higher developments would be encouraged around “core” land close to rail stations.

The government says “gentler, scaled height limits” would be built further from the transport hubs, within an 800m radius that it describes as a walkable catchment.

The plan is expected to spark strong debate in affected suburbs if residents lose rights to directly object to developments that tick all boxes set under council planning codes.

But the government insists the voices of locals will still be heard, including in deciding how each new zone would be tailored to individual suburbs, to avoid cookie-cutter rules.

Ms Allan said the reforms would help reduce housing shortages.

“Building more homes around 50 inner-suburban train stations mean young people have more opportunity to rent or buy a place that’s directly connected to public transport,” she said.

“I know it won’t fix everything, but it will deliver more homes and new life to inner suburbs that are full of jobs, transport and services – where young buyers and renters are currently locked out.”

Locations of the first 25 train and tram zones were selected based on the quality of transport services, existing open space and proximity to jobs and schools. Picture: Josie Hayden

The locations of the first 25 train and tram zones were selected based on the quality of transport services, existing open space and proximity to jobs and schools.

Seven zones — including at Carnegie, Hughesdale, Murrumbeena, West Footscray and Tottenham — will be centred around rail lines that run through the $15.5bn Metro Tunnel, which opens next year.

Another six will be located along the Belgrave/Lilydale lines, around Glenferrie, Hawthorn, Auburn, Blackburn, Nunawading and Mitcham stations, while there will be four on the Sandringham Line around North Brighton, Middle Brighton, Hampton and Sandringham stations.

Developments are likely to be up to 20 storeys high. Picture: Taras Vyshnya

Some of the locations, such as Toorak Station, already have high rises in the area but the rezoning could usher in even taller towers.

The remaining 25 will be announced later this year — and established by 2026 – setting the scene for a housing policy arm wrestle between Labor, the Coalition and the Greens who all have competing visions for density in middle and inner Melbourne.

New zones are in addition to 10 “activity centres” being rolled out in suburbs such as Broadmeadows, Frankston, Camberwell and Ringwood, which were announced as part of the government’s Housing Statement last year.

They also complement the government’s contentious $34bn Suburban Rail Loop East, which allows skyscrapers between 20 and 40 storeys in some areas, including Box Hill.

Mitcham train station will be transformed in an activity centre. Picture: Richard Serong

Planning Sonya Kilkenny says the rewriting of planning rules is crucial to cater to an expected population boom. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny said the rewriting of planning rules was critical to cater to Melbourne’s expected population boom.

“This isn’t about overnight change – this is about incremental change that sets Victoria up for the next generation, so we can have more opportunities for young people and better communities for everyone,” she said.

Urban economist at consultancy KPMG, Terry Rawnsley, said about 35 per cent of extra housing was built within 1km of railway stations between 2006 and 2021, but that major precincts such as Docklands and Southbank had exhausted supply.

Swinburne University Stephen Glackin said medium to higher density should be built around most train stations across Melbourne.

“You have these train stations that have near infinite capacity and some of them still have single storey buildings across the road,” he said.

“It’s just a misuse of public assets.”

Originally published as High rises set to soar above 50 suburban hubs as part of housing blitz