Major redevelopment

Major redevelopments are residential development projects of 10 or more dwellings. They are normally identified through the planning process and tracked through to completion.

As opposed to greenfield development, these projects are within the existing urban area of Melbourne. In the past the development sites may have been used for commercial, industrial, or residential purposes. Major redevelopments play a significant role in contributing to Melbourne’s overall housing supply.

Summary

• At December 2022 there were 159,115 dwellings in the major residential redevelopment project pipeline, a 7% increase from 2021.
• The inner and middle ring municipalities continue to be the dominant regions accounting for 83% or 131,996 of these dwellings.
• In 2022 there were 11,381 dwellings completed on major redevelopment sites, a 42% reduction from 2021.
• At December 2022 there were 32,964 dwellings under construction, a 25% increase from 2021.

Major redevelopment pipeline

The major redevelopment pipeline includes projects under construction and future supply considered 'Firm', 'Likely', or 'Possible'. At the end of 2022 there are 159,115 dwellings in the pipeline with 32,964 dwellings under construction and more than one third (or 56,662 dwellings) in projects considered ‘Firm’. Firm projects have planning approval that is current or are being marketed. Some of them will begin construction in 2023 and 2024 while others will remain undeveloped for years.

The redevelopment pipeline has increased slightly from 2021 to 2022 due in part to an increase in dwellings under construction which increased by 25% to 32,964. However, the number of dwellings in the redevelopment pipeline has been gradually declining since 2016. This is associated with a fall in apartment approvals in the inner suburbs, particularly in the City of Melbourne, since 2017. The decline is also due to projects being discontinued or repurposed for other uses such as hotels, and offices as markets change.

Annual supply of major residential development dwellings by built form

The dominant built form in the redevelopment pipeline varies across the city. In inner Melbourne 84% of dwellings are apartments in buildings of 10 storeys or more. Whilst in the middle ring suburbs 40% of dwellings are in these high-density buildings. Dwellings in low rise projects, such as detached house, townhouse, and low scale apartments equate to 20% of dwellings in the middle ring pipeline and across the city. Overall, 79% of dwellings in the major redevelopment pipeline are apartments of four or more storeys.

Supply of major residential redevelopment dwellings by region and built form

Completed major redevelopment projects

In 2022 there were 11,381 dwellings completed on major redevelopment sites. This is less than the 19,881 completed in 2021. Most dwellings completed were in the middle ring LGAs where Whitehorse (1,040), Glen Eira (861), and Merri-bek (711) had the greatest numbers. The City of Melbourne LGA had the highest number of completed dwellings (2,041) in 2022.

While there has been a significant drop in completed projects in 2022, there was an increase in those under construction, up 25% from 26,599 in 2021 to 32,964. This change is likely in part due to material and labour shortages leading to longer construction times.

Dwellings completed in 2022 by region and built form

Location of redevelopment projects to services

State planning policy and local planning strategies encourage higher density housing development on sites that are well located in relation to jobs, services and public transport. Nearly all major redevelopment projects occur in areas with good accessibility to services and transport with 89% of dwellings and 77% of projects completed in 2022 within 800m of an activity centre or train station.

Percentage of dwellings and projects within 800m of an activity centre or train station

Build to Rent

Over the last year Build to Rent has emerged as a desirable development option with apartment buildings being purpose built to rent and existing planned projects transitioning from build to sell to the build to rent model. Most of these projects are in the Melbourne LGA.

Build to rent apartments by LGA

Page last updated: 21/12/23