New open space is required to meet the needs of current and future populations in this part of Kensington, which is within the Macaulay urban renewal area. The Chelmsford Street Open Space will be the first new open space delivered in Macaulay and an integral part of the future open space network.

This project will implement actions from the Macaulay Structure plan including:

• Action 58: Deliver new public open space adjacent to the Moonee Ponds Creek corridor incorporating integrated water management within Stubbs and Chelmsford precincts.
• Action 60: Undertake detailed design for open spaces, ensuring that caring for Country principles are embedded both in the design and management of open spaces.

The City of Melbourne has funding to deliver the new Chelmsford Street Open Space located at 70-90 Chelmsford Street. We have included Bent Street and the Moonee Ponds Creek edge as part of our draft concept plan development to ensure these sites can be integrated in the future.

We will continue to work with delivery partners and authorities to design and deliver these two areas in alignment with the Macaulay Structure Plan.

In alignment with the Macaulay Structure Plan, we are proposing to redesign the Bent Street streetscape to enhance biodiversity, assist with flood mitigation, and prioritise pedestrian and cyclist movements. Approximately 10 car parks in Bent Street would be repurposed to provide more greening and permeable surfaces. Bent Street would also become a one-way road (northbound) as part of this proposal. A separate statutory public notification process would be required before this change could occur, and the community would be given an opportunity to respond specifically to the proposed road changes.

We are proposing to create additional greening (new garden beds and tree planting) in Chelmsford Street by repurposing three car parks adjacent to the Chelmsford Street Open Space, on the northern side of Chelmsford Street. If this proposal was supported, repurposing the three car parks in Chelmsford Street may be included as part of the Chelmsford Street Open Space construction.

We’ve recently undertaken a parking review in Kensington, and we know parking is an issue in this area. Council’s parking and kerbside management team will support our development of this area to ensure changes to parking meet the needs of residents, businesses and visitors.

Community and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Traditional Owner feedback highlighted the importance of acknowledging the industrial history of this area in Kensington.

We are proposing to retain the east and west ends of the building and integrate them into the landscape. We are also proposing to re-use the red bricks to create new retaining and seating walls.

Further structural engineering investigations are required to determine how and if the two ends of the building can be retained.

The dog run to the east of the site is managed by Vision Australia, and it is critical for the health and development of their Seeing Eye Dogs. There are no plans to alter or relocate the dog run at this stage, but this may be revisited in the future if the opportunity arises.

The Chelmsford Street Open Space project has an estimated budget of $7.7 million, which includes costs for feasibility, design and construction.

Pending detailed design development and the public tender process to engage a construction contractor, works are anticipated to commence in late 2025.