Innovative social housing project now set to open its doors
LONDON: An innovative social housing project is now set to open its doors in a near city suburb.
The latest project to be completed as part of the Victorian Government’s Ground Lease Model program has opened its doors at Melbourne’s Brighton.
Homes Victoria and Housing Australia leased the site at New Street, Brighton, for 40 years to Building Communities (Vic) Limited.
Building Communities built and will now manage and maintain the 151 social housing homes at the site 10km from the Melbourne CBD.
There are also 140 homes to be leased out at a market rate to add more rental housing in the area.
Around 5 per cent of the homes will be made available as specialist disability accommodation.
A cafe, community pavilion and community garden are also part of the project. The site was chosen for its access to public transport, jobs, community services and destinations including Elsternwick Park, Elwood Beach and Glen Huntly Road.
All the homes are accessible and energy efficient.
The Ground Lease Model allows all the land used for social housing projects to remain in public ownership and is the first such partnership in the country.
“The innovative Ground Lease Model is one of the many ways we are delivering social housing, providing modern and accessible homes for those who need them most,” Victorian housing minister Harriet Shing said.
Two more sites in the program, at Flemington and Prahran, have also been completed while another, at Holland Court, also in Flemington, was announced last year. Holland Court will have more than 1000 new homes completed by the end of 2026.
There are further projects planned for sites at Hampton East, Prahran, Port Melbourne and South Yarra.
