Nightingale Housing, a registered charity, has been selected to deliver approximately 70 townhouses, including 7 affordable, on the former rail spur in Alphington as part of the Small Sites program.
Nightingale intends to partner with Women’s Property Initiatives to deliver a portion of the project as affordable homes for low-income women and women-led families, helping provide housing for those who often face the greatest barriers to secure accommodation.
The proposal includes a new public green space and a formal pedestrian and cycling connection between Grange Road, Hamilton Street and Railway Place, encouraging residents to walk or cycle to local shops and public transport, and easing pressure on local roads.
Executive General Manager Investment and Portfolio Management, Alex Kennedy, said working with experienced partners such as Nightingale shows how partnerships with the private sector can help activate underused government land and deliver a greater mix of housing, including affordable homes, in well-located areas.
Small Sites is one of the many ways Development Victoria is working with the private sector to transform surplus government land into much-needed homes, expanding housing choice and affordability in locations close to jobs and services.
Alex Kennedy
Executive General Manager, Investment and Portfolio Management, Development Victoria
Nightingale Housing’s Head of Community, Toby Dean, said working alongside Development Victoria allows them to transform under-utilised land into much-needed housing that’s close to public transport, services, and local amenities, exactly where people want to live.
“By teaming up with Women’s Property Initiatives to deliver a portion of homes as affordable, long-term, secure rental housing we can help more women and women-headed households have access to truly high-quality homes,” said Toby.
We’re creating opportunities for connection, from communal areas where neighbours can meet to thoughtful design moves like the new linear link that will foster movement and interaction across the site and broader community.
Toby Dean
Head of Community, Nightingale Housing
The local community was engaged about future uses of the site, with feedback showing strong support for new housing, open space and better connections, shaping what will be delivered on the site.
Construction is expected to begin in 2027, subject to planning approvals, with further developer appointments for other sites expected from early 2026.
There are now 14 parcels of land in the pipeline for the Small Sites Program, with the potential to deliver up to 1,000 new homes across Victoria, helping increase housing supply in established suburbs close to jobs, transport and essential services.
Find out more about the Small Sites project.
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View allUpdated on 02 March 2026