We are creating new opportunities for affordable housing in the City of Melbourne.

On 27 August 2024, Council resolved to lease a council-owned car park at Victoria Street for the purpose of affordable housing.

The next step will be to establish a Project Reference Group and begin a selective public process to identify a community housing provider to build and manage affordable housing at the site.

Council also agreed to defer further consideration of the lease of 44-60 Curzon Street, North Melbourne, for affordable housing, until the impact of delivering affordable housing at the Victoria Street site is understood.

Every Melburnian deserves a safe place to call home and projects like Victoria Street will increase the supply of affordable housing in the City of Melbourne.

The city has a shortfall of at least 6000 affordable rental homes and if we do nothing this will almost quadruple to more than 23,000 by 2036. For this reason, we are committed to working with the State and Federal governments to increase the number of affordable homes, as well as using our own land for this purpose. This commitment is part of our Affordable Housing Strategy 2020-2030.

Affordable housing helps support people on low incomes by providing high-quality housing at below the market rate – enhancing liveability in our city, the diversity of our community and the productivity of our economy.

While 325 – 341 Victoria Street is currently being used as a public car park, a parking analysis conducted at peak times in June 2024 has shown sufficient parking is available nearby within a three-to-four-minute walk.

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on this proposal.

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