The Allan Labor Government has fast-tracked hundreds of new homes for Victorians as part of a massive expansion of Richmond's Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre.
Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny today announced the Labor Government has given the green light for 827 new homes to be built as part of the redevelopment, with 10 per cent dedicated to affordable housing.
The Victoria Gardens expansion will include six buildings and feature a mix of one to three-bedroom apartments, accommodating more people in established suburbs - close to the CBD, jobs, services and public transport.
Additionally, the project will also extend and refurbish a section of the existing shopping centre into a new market hall including retail and commercial floor space, as well as a new underground car park.
The $780 million expansion was submitted as part of the Labor Government's Development Facilitation Program, which streamlines the planning process for priority projects that boost investment into Victoria's economy, keep people in jobs, and create homes for Victorians.
Seven residential projects delivering 1,113 homes have been fast tracked under the Development Facilitation Program. A further 10 applications are currently under assessment, comprising more than 1,000 homes, and 101 projects are in the pre-application phase, comprising more than 33,000 homes.
The Victoria Gardens redevelopment will create approximately 390 jobs during construction and will support more than 1,000 ongoing jobs.
The redevelopment supports the Government's landmark Housing Statement, which is creating the conditions for 800,000 new homes to be built over the next decade, in areas where people want to live.
Victoria is leading the country when it comes to dwelling approvals, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics reporting Victorian approvals rose by 3.2 per cent in March, followed by Western Australia at 1.5 per cent.
As stated by Premier Jacinta Allan
"We've fast-tracked the Victoria Gardens expansion to ensure more than 800 homes can be built for Victorians right in the heart of Richmond in an area close to jobs, transport, services and shops."
"Nothing is more important than a roof over your head and we're making sure there are more affordable housing choices for our kids where they want to live."
As stated by Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny
"We're making good decisions faster, getting projects off the ground that will improve housing choice and get more homes built over the next decade."
