- Published:
- Tuesday 16 August 2022
Construction is ramping up in Brighton to deliver hundreds of new social and market rental homes under a partnership between the Andrews Labor Government, private sector and community housing organisations.
The site will be transformed over the next two years as the Labor Government gets on with delivering the project as part of a $515 million investment across three sites in Flemington, Brighton and Prahran.
The 299 homes in Brighton are made up of 151 social housing homes and 148 market rental homes, with some designed specifically for people with disability. Others feature flexible floorplans to accommodate larger families.
The New Street project will replace 127 outdated public housing homes with modern one, two and three bedroom homes to better meet the needs of residents. The homes will be accessible, energy efficient and environmentally sustainable and the precinct will feature new public open spaces and community facilities.
Early works began in August 2021 and are now well underway, with construction expected to create more than 900 jobs until completion in January 2024.
Already, 14 apprentices have been employed to work on the project with more on the way - and seven jobs have been created for social housing tenants.
The redevelopment is being delivered through an innovative ground lease model in partnership with not-for-profit consortium Building Communities. Public land will be leased to Building Communities, which is responsible for financing, design, construction, tenancy management and operation of the new housing, for a period of 40 years.
Housing and land will remain in Homes Victoria ownership through this period and at the end of the 40 years, management of the land and housing is returned to Homes Victoria. Building Communities is delivering two other projects under this model at Flemington and Prahran.
All residents relocated as part of the redevelopment have the right of return should they wish.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing Danny Pearson
“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.”
“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.”
Quote attributable to Member for Southern Metropolitan Region Nina Taylor
“This new precinct will knit into the wider local landscape, delivering homes and community facilities in our neighbourhood, while also creating hundreds of jobs.”