Lend Lease secures 2.5 hectare Docklands site with Collins and Flinders Street frontage

Lend Lease will develop Docklands’ last major parcel of uncontracted land to create a $1.6 billion precinct linking central Melbourne to Docklands.

The Batman’s Hill redevelopment on Collins Street and Flinders Street is proposed to include more than 100,000 square metres of net lettable area office space, retail space and about 600 apartments. The company will also provide public open space and infrastructure.

“This site has enormous strategic importance, linking the old and the new parts of Melbourne’s CBD,” planning minister Matthew Guy says.

“This site will be the first developed link between the CDB and Docklands and, once completed, will allow the removal of the bridge over Wurrundjeri Way to give pedestrians a sense of the natural continuation of Collins Street.

“As the last major development site in Docklands to be contracted to the market, the site will, over the next decade, bring a diverse range of public spaces, new residential and office accommodation, retail amenity and potentially a hotel.”

Guy says the 2.5 hectare site, diagonally across from Southern Cross Station, will benefit from its prestigious Collins Street address and Flinders Street frontage. It has air rights above the Wurundjeri Way road reserve adjacent to the rail corridor.

“Practically all 140 hectares of Docklands’ developable land is now contracted for development. To date, 50% of that land has been developed into the newest part of Melbourne’s CBD.’’

Lend Lease managing director Steve McCann is suitably impressed by its appointment. “The execution of a development agreement reflects our strong capabilities in mixed use inner-urban development, and the success we have demonstrated at Victoria Harbour in collaboration with Places Victoria.

“The project leverages our integrated model, including development, construction and funds management and further builds on our Victorian commercial office and residential backlog.”

Guy says Docklands is becoming a waterfront destination in line to have 20,000 residents and 60,000 workers when completed in about 2025.

“The proposed development has the potential to contribute enormous economic benefits providing around 10,000 construction jobs over the life of the project.”

Subject to planning approval and market demand, construction will begin next year with the project to be delivered in several stages over 10 years.

The proposed development includes:

·   commercial space of 100,000 square metres that equates to a net lettable floor area across four buildings for about 10,000 workers

·   600 houses

·   1000 square metres of community spaces

·   covered public square flanked by a community building and commercial towers

·   a public realm design that reinterprets the history of Batman’s Hill

·   a north-south laneway resembling the scale of those in the CBD connecting Southern Cross station and Collins Street to Flinders Street, the Northbank precinct and Yarra River.

Commercial buildings with 6-Star Green Star ratings will front Collins Street and residential developments with 5-Star Green Star ratings will be along Flinders Street.

Places Victoria CEO Peter Seamer says the Docklands master developer has attracted $8.8 billion of private sector investment and secured up to 3000 construction industry jobs annually since the urban renewal project began in 2000.

“There is currently $1.02 billion worth of construction activity under way across seven projects that will deliver 741 apartments and office space for more than 3630 workers, helping to grow Docklands’ current population from 8000 residents and 38,000 workers,” Seamer says.

Minister Guy has overseen the approval of 11 commercial developments in Docklands.

“Docklands continues to make a valuable contribution to the Victorian economy and this last link complements the $300 million community infrastructure plan announced in 2012,” he says.