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The state government has announced that construction work has ramped up on its Brighton project, which looks to develop nearly 300 social and affordable homes.
The development sees the Andrews government, private sector and community housing organisations work in unison to complete the project, which will produce 151 social houses and 148 market rental homes at the New Street project.
Transformation of the site will occur across the next two years as part of a $515 million investment across three sites in Flemington, Brighton and Prahran.
A certain number of houses will be designed specially for people with disabilities, while other features of the modern one-, two- and three-bedroom constructions include flexible floorplans to accommodate larger families.
Minister for Housing Danny Pearson said the development acknowledges the need for stock throughout the city.
“We know more social and affordable housing is needed across Victoria and in all areas of Melbourne, including inner city areas like Brighton, Prahran and Flemington,” Mr Pearson said.
The Brighton project will replace 127 outdated public housing homes with modern equivalents greater tailored to the needs of residents, with the new buildings to be easily accessible, energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable.
Public open spaces and community facilities will also be a hallmark of the development, which is being delivered through an innovative ground lease model — similar to one recently announced by the West Australian government.
Under the model, public land will be leased to not-for-profit consortium Building Communities, which will be responsible for financing, design, construction, tenancy management and operation of the new housing for a 40-year period.
Housing and land will remain in Homes Victoria’s ownership through this period, and at the end of the period, management of the land and housing is returned to Homes Victoria.
“The innovative ground lease model is one of the many ways we are delivering social housing, providing modern and environmentally sustainable homes for those who need it, where they need it,” Mr Pearson explained.
Building communities is delivering two other projects under this model at Flemington and Prahran.
Early works for the Brighton project began in August 2021, with construction now well underway on the development — which is expected to create upwards of 900 jobs between now and its scheduled completion in January 2024.
Speaking on the project’s importance, Nina Taylor, member for southern metropolitan region, stated that the precinct “will knit into the wider local landscape, delivering homes and community facilities in our neighbourhood, while also creating hundreds of jobs”.
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