Key details
LocationNorth Melbourne
Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country
Policy objectiveUrban Renewal, Sustainability, Value creation and capture, Social and Economic Infrastructure, Economic Development
ClientDepartment of Transport and Planning
Project partnersVictorian Health Building Authority
Melbourne Water
Victorian Planning Authority
Rail Projects Victoria
VicTrack
Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions
City of Melbourne
Invest Victoria
Melbourne Biomedical Precinct
Overview
Development Victoria has been engaged by the Department of Transport and Planning to deliver the renewal of the Arden precinct, overseeing its transformation into a globally recognised destination for innovation and industry collaboration.
The location and connectivity of the site presents Arden with a unique opportunity to leverage and complement the success of the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct - one of the world’s leading research hubs for health, technology, life sciences and education.
The first stage of precinct development will focus on the 14 hectares of state-owned land surrounding the new Arden Station, which is currently under construction as part of the Metro Tunnel Project, due for completion in 2025.
The future for Arden was established in the Arden Vision (2018), where in eight key directions for the precinct were identified:
- Transforming Arden into a landmark destination
- Designing a distinctive place
- Embedding sustainable change
- Accommodating diverse communities
- Prioritising active transport
- Investing in community infrastructure
- Celebrating water
- Creating diverse open spaces
These principles have been used to inform the Arden Structure Plan and Melbourne Planning Scheme Amendment, both of which were approved and gazetted in July 2022.
44.6ha project area
34,000 new jobs
Timeline
Metro Business Case
Arden Vision
Value Creation and Capture Framework endorsed
Draft Planning Scheme Amendment
Development Strategy and Planning Scheme Amendment gazettal
Precinct Business Case and Market Sounding
Market Engagement
Investment Attraction Activities
Arden Station opens
Latest news
View allLocation
Arden Central Market Process
The Arden Precinct presents a landmark urban renewal opportunity in an accessible and vibrant part of central Melbourne.
Two minutes by train from the hospitals, universities, and research institutes at Parkville Melbourne Biomedical Precinct, and two stops from Melbourne CBD, Arden Precinct is well positioned as a future innovation and collaboration hub, with quality and affordable housing to support diverse residents and key workers.
In June 2024, Development Victoria, on behalf of the Victorian Government invited bidders to participate in an Expression of Interest (EOI) to develop the Victorian Government’s landholding in the Arden Precinct, known as Arden Central. This EOI closed in August, 2024.
The Arden Vision (2018) and Victorian Housing Statement (2024-2034) propose a future for the Arden Precinct characterised by a vibrant mix of uses with quality jobs and at least 10 percent affordable housing on government-owned land.
The EOI was the first step in a multi-staged tender process to select a suitable development partner that shares our vision for Arden Central. The EOI presented an opportunity for interested parties to outline their capability and experience, their proposed general approach to delivery, and to demonstrate their understanding of the vision for Arden.
Following the EOI process, the Victorian Government has now evaluated submissions and selected a short-list of four bidders to proceed to the Request for Proposal (RFP) stage for Arden Central.
The shortlisted bidders (in alphabetical order) are:
- Australian Unity together with Formus Property, Community Housing Limited and Lyons
- Gurner and MAB Corporation together with Women’s Housing Limited and SOM
- Hamton Group together with Woods Bagot, Populous and Nelson + Khoo
- Lendlease Development and Assemble together with Scape, Keyton, NH Architecture and Prior + Partners
The RFP will request bidders to submit their proposed masterplan design, staging strategy, development program, and financial offer. All bids will be thoroughly evaluated by Government before any final decisions are made. Proposals are due in mid-2025.
The development of Arden Central is expected to create thousands of jobs, deliver new homes, enhance local infrastructure, and drive urban renewal.
To find out more, visit the FAQ page.
Background information about the Arden Precinct
The Arden Precinct is an urban renewal precinct in North Melbourne, located 2.5km north-west of the Melbourne CBD, centred around the Metro Tunnel’s new Arden Station. It will be a mixed use and innovation precinct and will be known as a new neighbourhood for Melbourne’s inner north-west. Arden is expected to accommodate approximately 34,000 jobs and be home to around 20,000 residents by 2051.
The Arden precinct consists of 44.6 hectares (of largely historical industrial lots) and is located between Macaulay Road, the Upfield rail line, Moonee Ponds Creek and Dryburgh Street in North Melbourne.
Arden is located just over two kilometres north-west of Melbourne’s CBD and in close proximity to Parkville/Melbourne Biomedical Precinct. Its proximity to Parkville will facilitate continued expansion of Victoria’s world leading biomedical research capability and growth of the Melbourne CBD.
The scale of opportunity so close to the city, along with significant government land holdings and exceptional transport connections, makes Arden a unique project for Melbourne.
By bringing people and jobs closer together spatially and through the provision of high-quality transport links, we are creating opportunities to boost Melbourne’s competitive advantages and economic productivity.
Growth of Arden has the potential to deliver significant economic, social and environmental benefits for Melbourne and Victoria.
The Arden Precinct is highly complementary to the nearby Parkville Precinct incorporating the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct (MBP) with over 45 partner hospitals, research centres, education institutions and biomedical organisations.
Arden and Parkville will be connected by just one Metro station, two minutes away, which will enable increased collaboration and synergies between the two precincts.
Arden is well positioned to build upon Victoria’s existing capabilities and become a globally recognised innovation precinct.
Arden will be an innovation cluster, attracting a range of precinct occupants in the life sciences, research, digital technology, and educational technology (edtech) sectors. The physical co-location of these entities will provide opportunities for collaboration and further innovation between research and industry partners.
The Arden Metro Station is planned to open in 2025, connecting Arden to Parkville (2mins) and the CBD (5mins) via the Melbourne Metro Tunnel.
State Government is seeking to partner with the private sector, industry and investors to start delivering the Arden precinct – with quality and affordable housing to support diverse residents and key workers, including affordable build to rent, build to sell, shared equity and key worker housing.
Arden Precinct EOI process
Government is seeking responses from prospective bidders to demonstrate ability to form a partnership with the State to deliver the Vision for Arden. Detailed information can be found on the official EOI landing page.
The EOI was released on Monday 24th of June 2024. The EOI process is now closed. Shortlisted Bidders will be invited to provide a Response in late 2024.
This timing is indicative only and may be changed by Development Victoria in accordance with the Conditions of the EOI Process.
Development Victoria is under no obligation to consider any information received from a Bidder after the closing date.
All participants should read the “Expressions of Interest, Arden Precinct – Arden Central” document available on Buying for Victoria Supplier portal as it contains important information for Bidders preparing applications.
Development Victoria will not be conducting individual Bidder briefing sessions as part of this EOI process. Development Victoria may conduct individual Bidder briefings as part of the RFP stage.
The Department of Transport and Planning will not respond to queries from participants. Participants should direct all queries regarding the Arden Expressions of Interest (EOI) process to Development Victoria.
Requests for clarifications for the EOI may be directed to Development Victoria’s Proposal Manager, Leia Bonacci at arden@development.vic.gov.au or Development Victoria, Level 9, 8 Exhibition Street, Melbourne 3000. Submissions must not be sent or copied to this address. Any submissions received to this email address may be ruled invalid.
Development Victoria is not obliged to respond to any communication relating to the EOI. Where Development Victoria responds to a communication it will provide its response to all Bidders unless Development Victoria is of the opinion that the issues raised apply only to one Bidder.
Communication with any person engaged by Development Victoria for the purposes of the Project (other than Development Victoria’s Proposal Manager) is prohibited and may result in the Bidder being excluded from this EOI process at Development Victoria’s discretion.
Resources
Updated on 01 November 2024