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LONDON: Multigenerational high-rise communities are being created around both underground and overground transport hubs.

High-rise housing clusters will be created next to Suburban Rail Loop stations with new images outlining how the state government wants to transform middle Melbourne.

The scale of increased density proposed for the station precincts, which includes more skyscrapers at Box Hill and towers likely to soar up to 20 storeys above some suburban streets.

Medium-density housing several storeys high would be encouraged on main roads up to 1.6km from each station, while there are ambitious proposals for industrial developments near Monash University and Southland shopping centre in Cheltenham.

Maps showing how the $35bn SRL East project would reshape suburbs are in new “vision” papers created for six station precincts and released for community consultation.

While skyscrapers would be likely in Box Hill, where there are already towers taller than 100m, lower height limits are likely to be set in station locations at Cheltenham, Clayton, Monash, Glen Waverley and Burwood.

Suburban Rail Loop Minister Danny Pearson said more density would be a key part of new SRL neighbourhoods, which would have affordable housing, “close quality jobs”, transport, education and health care.

“We need to build up as well as out, ensuring Victorians can afford to live where they want, close to where they work, in thriving and sustainable communities,” he said.

“The SRL Precincts Plans put forward a vision for how this could look, and we’ll keep listening to local communities as we continue the planning work.”

Government insiders said contracts for tunnelling the Cheltenham to Glen Waverley section of the project were on track to be inked this year, with a preferred bidder currently negotiating a deal.

Concerns had been growing that contracts would have to be pushed back due to inflated costs battering the industry.

Funding for the $35bn SRL East is still up in the air, with the state setting aside $11.8bn for early works and construction, and $2.2bn pledged by the federal government.

Some industry figures have questioned whether the project should be paused – similar to what has happened to Melbourne Airport Rail Link – due to rising state debt and infrastructure costs.

But in releasing draft visions that set the planning framework for the loop, which would eventually run from Cheltenham to Werribee to connect with most radial rail lines in Melbourne, the government says it is “forging ahead”.

Formal structure plans will be devised next year after community consultation on each vision when height limits on developments will be established.

It comes amid a broader government push for increased density in established areas to contain sprawl as the state’s population steams towards nine million by mid-century.

Maps released of each precinct around SRL East stations include zones where three different levels of development will be encouraged, referred to as medium change, higher change, and significant change areas.

Artists’ impressions show the “significant change” areas include high rises of up to 20 storeys in some suburbs, while “higher change” areas are up to seven storeys.

The vision for a Monash station includes a “new town centre” that would include high-rise commercial and housing as well as retail and hospitality venues, just north of the existing university precinct.

The plan would be to “create a grid-like pattern of streets across the central area of the precinct, north of Normanby Rd and south of Ferntree Gully Rd”, which is likely to be a network of laneways.

“Significant change areas near to the SRL station will provide taller commercial buildings supported by a mixed-use town centre,” it says.

“This new, high-amenity environment with upgraded public spaces will support growth in knowledge jobs.”

Mr Pearson said Melbourne would be the size of London by mid-century, meaning about nine million people living here, so change was needed.

“We need to move away from our traditional focus on a single CBD and evolve into a city of centres – connected places where people can access the things they need, closer to home,” he said.

Burwood station, to be built across the road from Deakin University, will feature a mix of high-rise buildings including restaurants as well as open spaces for a student population, while it will also encourage medium density along Burwood Highway.

Glen Waverley will have a focus on attracting more housing choice with a huge area bordered by Springvale Rd and High Street Rd marked for “significant change”.

Less intense development is planned for Clayton, which will have “increased density and building heights in appropriate locations”, while Cheltenham will better leverage activity centres in the suburb and at Highett and Southland.

Tunnel boring machines are scheduled to start in 2026, with up to 10 diggers working the 26km route from Cheltenham to Box Hill.