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Key Details

Location
31 The Avenue, Coburg
Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country

Policy objective
Housing Statement
Urban Renewal

Overview

Development Victoria is creating a vibrant new residential community at 31 The Avenue, Coburg.

Situated close to public transport, retail and community amenities, the planning application for the four-building complex allows up to 274 apartments, indoor and outdoor communal spaces and a new public open space.

The proposed development would see much needed housing, including affordable housing, delivered on the site giving more people a place to call home – close to jobs, transport, hospitals and schools.

It helps meet the commitment in the Victorian Government’s Housing Statement to increase supply of housing across the state.

Planning update

Development Victoria has submitted a planning scheme amendment and planning permit application to the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) to rezone the site. This would enable the proposed development to progress to the next stage.

The community can provide feedback through the public exhibition process led by DTP on Engage Victoria, until Thursday 31 October 2024. Find out more under the Planning and design tab.

Project statistics

Up to 274 energy efficient apartments

Minimum 10% affordable housing

Key project benefits

  • the planning application allows up to 274 apartments, consisting of a mix of build-to-sell and build-to-rent apartments
  • minimum 10% affordable housing
  • new public open space on The Avenue
  • provision for ground floor café
  • energy efficient homes

Timeline

October 2024
  • Planning Scheme Amendment exhibition process
Late 2024
  • Planning approvals (subject to change)
Early 2025
  • Community consultation on open space design
Mid to late 2025
  • Early works, including demolition, commence on site
Late 2025
  • Construction commences
Mid 2027
  • Project completed

Location

31 The Avenue Coburg will be a new neighbourhood with a diverse range of homes close to jobs, transport, hospitals and schools.

The site is located to the east of Sydney Road and is bound to the north by The Grove, to the east by De Carle Street, to the south by The Avenue and has a right of way running along the western boundary.

Planning

Development Victoria has submitted a planning scheme amendment and planning permit application to the Department of Transport and Planning to rezone the site. This would enable the proposed development to progress to the next stage.

A planning scheme amendment is a statutory process that is managed by the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP).

The planning scheme amendment will be determined through the Development Facilitation Program, which is an assessment pathway for priority projects in identified sectors. The pathway targets projects that will inject investment, keep people in jobs and create homes.

The community can provide feedback through the public exhibition process led by DTP on Engage Victoria, until Thursday 31 October 2024.

Design proposal

Development Victoria will transform 31 the Avenue, Coburg into a four-building complex designed by Hayball Architects. The development includes the conversion of a section of The Avenue into new public open space.

The four-building complex will be a medium density, apartment development, the planning application for which allows up to 274 apartments of varying sizes to accommodate the diverse housing needs of the Coburg community.

The scale of the buildings has been designed to transition from the commercial use of Sydney Road to the residential use of De Carle Street. The complex reaches eight stories on the Sydney Road side, reducing to five storeys along De Carle Street.

You can review the architectural drawings submitted with the planning application to see the proposed site layout, building heights, floor plans and apartment layouts.

Key elements of the proposal

  • Buildings to reflect neighbourhood character
  • Materials from existing structures such as bricks and existing site walls will be recycled for use in landscape design and external cladding
  • Communal open spaces for residents, including roof top terraces
  • On site car parking and bicycle spaces for residents and visitors
  • More than 50% of the site is open space
  • Retention of high value trees along existing street scapes
  • Treating, retaining and reusing stormwater to best practice guidelines
  • Provision for electric vehicle charging
  • Minimum 5-Star Green Star building certification
  • New public open space created on The Avenue
  • Provision of a café on the corner of The Avenue and De Carle Street
  • A mix apartments of varying sizes to cater for different household sizes and stages of life
  • Purchase and rental options for residents
  • Minimum 10% affordable housing

Development proposal

Development Victoria is creating a vibrant new residential community at 31 The Avenue in Coburg. The planning application for the proposed project allows for up to 274 apartments, indoor and outdoor communal spaces and new public open space. The four-building complex will be a medium density development consisting of apartments of varying sizes offered as a combination of build-to-sell and build-to-rent. Minimum 10% of apartments will be affordable housing.

The eastern end of The Avenue will be converted into a public open space and incorporate the current vacant strip of land on the corner of The Avenue and De Carle Street. Consultation on the open space design will be undertaken with Merri-Bek Council and the community in early 2025.

Community members are encouraged to register their details on the overview page to be kept up to date on the project and opportunities for engagement.

Build-to-rent (BTR) housing is purpose-built rental housing that is held in single ownership and professionally managed. The BTR model creates homes for the rental market instead of selling to individual buyers and provides Victorian renters with high-quality and well-maintained homes with secure leases.

Development Victoria is currently exploring options on future management of rental properties. This may involve managing the properties directly or working with a Registered Housing Agency.

Affordable housing is housing, including social housing, that is appropriate for the needs of very low-, low- and moderate-income households. The definition of affordable housing is included in The Planning and Environment Act 1987 and specifies the income ranges for very low, low and moderate-income households for affordable housing that is not social housing.  The income ranges specified in the Order can be found on the Department of Transport and Planning website.

Planning

A planning scheme amendment is a statutory process that will allow the site to be rezoned to accommodate the proposed residential development allowing for affordable housing, public open spaces and community spaces. The site is currently zoned Public Use Zone. If the planning scheme amendment is approved the site will be rezoned Mixed Use.

The development application is an independent, statutory process that is managed by the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP).  The community can provide feedback on the proposed planning scheme amendment through the public exhibition and consultation process led by DTP.

The planning scheme amendment will be determined through the Development Facilitation Program, which is a pathway for priority projects. Depending on the number and nature of submissions received by DTP, the Minster for Planning may refer the proposal to the Priority Project Standing Advisory Panel. The timing and process will be known once the exhibition process is completed.

A precinct-wide heritage overlay applies to the site, which means planning approval is required for any demolition or construction work. The combined planning scheme amendment and planning permit includes approval for demolition and construction.

Cars, bikes, parking and traffic

The planning proposal is seeking a variation to the car parking requirements of the Merri-Bek Planning Scheme. An application has been made for reduced parking based on the site’s excellent access to public transport, excess bicycle parking provisions and access to walking and cycling routes.  While final car park numbers have not been resolved it is proposed that not all apartments will have a dedicated parking space.

It is proposed that there will be approximately 300 bicycle parking spaces on site, which is above the requirements of the Merri-Bek Planning Scheme and aligned with the proposal to reduce car reliance for residents.

Vehicle access to the basement car park will be via a laneway on the western side of the complex, which will provide two-way entry and exit to the complex. The lane will also include a loading bay for resident’s use when moving in and out of the buildings and provision will be made in the basement carpark for smaller vehicle loading and rubbish collection.

Traffic analysis has indicated residents will generate approximately 500 extra car movements a day, which will have minimal impact on the surrounding road network. The proposal’s reduced car parking and excess bicycle parking provisions will help reduce traffic movements on the surrounding road network.

The parking spaces removed to create the new public open space on The Avenue will not be replaced.

The building will however provide 4 visitor bays to service the building, café and 2 car share bays.

Sustainability

Provision for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations will be installed for a minimum of 10 car parking spaces.

Green Star is an internationally recognised rating system setting the standard for healthy, resilient, positive buildings and places. The ratings tool is built upon eight sustainability categories that can be incorporated into a building design to future proof a building for the future.

You can find out more about the Green Star program by visiting the Green Building Council Australia website.

Building design

Overshadowing impacts are limited to mid-year early mornings and late afternoons along some sections of De Carle Street. The impacts can be seen in the architectural drawings set found in the resources area.

Construction

Subject to approval of the planning scheme amendment and planning application, Development Victoria is anticipating early works commencing on site mid 2025, with completion in 2027.

Significant existing street trees on De Carle Street and The Grove will be retained and new public open space will be created on The Avenue through the closure of the road and use of an  adjacent vacant land.  A small number of trees will be removed to enable the future development. However, landscaping with a greater number of new trees will be delivered, in central communal spaces and connecting walkways. Residents will also enjoy a rooftop terrace.

Community engagement later this year will help inform the design of this new open space.

It is anticipated the site will require some remediation to make it suitable for residential use. While the site has historically been used for residential and education purposes, surrounding land uses may have impacted the site. The buildings on site have been constructed using asbestos material which was typical of the time. Demolition will be undertaken using the appropriate asbestos removal protocols.

Updated on 03 October 2024