Denmark Street, Kew

Development Victoria, the Victorian government’s property development agency, is transforming the site into a vibrant new residential community. It’s in a fantastic location, close to jobs, transport, schools, and green spaces.

While we're still in the early planning stages, the development is expected to include around 500 new homes of various sizes to suit a variety of households and budgets - creating more opportunities for people to buy homes in Kew.

The site has three buildings that were built in the 1960s, ranging from five to eight storeys. VicRoads ceased operations there at the start of 2024.

The site is bordered by:

• Wellington Street to the north
• Denmark Street to the west
• Stratford Avenue to the east
• Barkers Road to the south

It’s accessed via a long, narrow car park. To the east, it also adjoins Xavier College, which has sports facilities like tennis courts, a swimming pool, and a grandstand. Kew Junction is just northwest of the site, at the intersection of Denmark Street, Studley Park Road, High Street, and Princess Street.

This project is being driven by the Victorian Government as part of the Housing Statement and its housing targets. The site’s development aligns with the State Government’s broader strategy to deliver more housing in well-located areas with strong access to jobs, services, and transport.

Additionally, the State Government has recently designated Kew Junction as a new Train and Tram Activity Centre Zone under the Activity Centre Program. This classification supports increased housing and mixed-use development to enhance the area's liveability and connectivity.

Development Victoria is overseeing the project and exploring the best way to deliver new homes, including working with private sector partners.

The project will be delivered over several years, with construction of the first buildings expected to start within the next two years.

The site falls under Design and Development Overlay – Schedule 14 (DDO14), introduced through Amendment C230 in 2017. This overlay guides development in Kew Junction, with a focus on:

• Architectural quality
• Heritage and neighbourhood character
• Sustainable design
• Public spaces and active transport

For this site (Precinct 1C), key requirements include:

• Maximum building height: 28.5 metres
• Lower height near site boundaries: Max 11 metres within 10 metres of the edge
• Landscaped setbacks: Minimum 5 metres along Stratford Avenue, Denmark Street, and Wellington Street\
• New public spaces and pedestrian links, including connections to Stratford Avenue and a shared pedestrian/cycle path linking Glenferrie via Le Bray Reserve and Glenferrie Oval

All developments on the site will need planning permits, expected to be managed through the Department of Transport and Planning. The first applications will likely be submitted in early 2026.

No, the land was recently rezoned for residential use, so no further changes are needed.

One option we’re looking at is repurposing the vacant commercial office building on the southern end of the site into homes. The structure is well-suited for this and reusing it could speed up housing delivery while cutting carbon emissions compared to a new build.

We’re also exploring private sector partnerships to deliver the rest of the development, ensuring a diverse mix of housing options. Community input will play a key role in shaping the final plan.

Adaptive re-use is the process of converting an existing building for a new purpose. In this case, it means transforming an office building into apartments.

For the Denmark Street site, this could involve stripping the building back to its concrete structure and using it as a foundation for a new apartment complex. If feasible, this approach could reduce carbon emissions by up to 50% compared to demolishing and rebuilding from scratch.

For adaptive reuse to work, a building needs to be structurally sound and have a layout that can be retrofitted to meet modern residential standards. So far, our investigations suggest the southern building meets these criteria, while the northern building does not.

The site is expected to include around 500 apartments, but the exact layout and number of buildings will be determined as planning progresses.

The Design and Development Overlay sets a maximum height of 28.5 metres, in line with the height of the existing buildings.

At least 10% of homes will be affordable, meaning they’ll be priced within reach of medium-income earners. There are no current plans for social or public housing in this development.

We are considering build-to-rent housing as one way to deliver homes quickly as part of the project.

We’re still working on the design of public spaces and pathways. Community input will help shape these areas through the Community Aspirations Document, which will be shared with future developers to guide their plans.

We know there’s strong community interest in a shared bike/pedestrian path through the old rail line car park, and we’re considering this as part of the planning process.

It’s too early to say for sure, but we aim to keep as many trees as possible.

This will be determined as planning progresses to ensure minimal impact on surrounding streets.

We’re aiming to begin early works in mid-2025, with major construction starting in the following two years, depending on planning approvals.

We know construction can be disruptive, so we’ll take steps to minimise dust, noise, and vibration. The community will be notified ahead of any works, with details on what to expect and how we’re managing impacts.

Given its history, some remediation may be required. Potential contaminants could be linked to past uses of the site. A full environmental assessment will determine what work is needed.

Yes, Development Victoria is engaging with residents and stakeholders to understand what’s important to them.

As part of this, we’re creating a Community Aspirations Report, which will capture community priorities and help guide future development. We’ll also be reaching out to residents to hear their thoughts on:

• What they love about living in Kew
• How we can create a sense of community in the new development
• What design elements they’d like to see

In August 2024, the Department of Transport and Planning consulted the community on rezoning the site for residential and commercial development. Feedback from this process has been valuable in shaping the project so far.