The next wave of major builds line up

A handful of major construction projects are moving closer to reality, as evidenced by current construction tenders open for each of the respective projects.

With a minimum construction value of $50 million, the five projects across metropolitan Melbourne represent the largest projects currently at tender. Below is a brief overview of each of the five projects that will make their place in due course.

Flinders Gate

After being touted as a major commercial development for the best part of five years, Dexus have finally moved Flinders Gate to construction tender.

The Adaptive reuse encompasses a 1,071 car park set behind two existing buildings. 20,000sqm of commercial floor space is approved within a mid-rise building that would appear above fully restored heritage facades. According to project architect SJB, "500 car spaces will be removed as part of this redevelopment and will see the addition of 150 bicycle spaces, as part of an ESD initiative to achieve a 5 star NABERS rating."

During 2016 it had been reported that Seek were likely to sign on for space within Flinders Gate, although no official announcement on a tenant for the project has been made to date.

East Brunswick Village - Stage 1

Another project with a long gestation period is East Brunswick Village at 129–149 Nicholson Street. Brunswick East.

Without a sales campaign in sight, developer Banco Group has pushed ahead with site works, facilitating early works across the massive 21,300sqm site. A construction is imminent with the tender for Stage 1 of the project now current.

Although eventually home to approximately 600 apartments, Merbo Project Management have Stage 1 consisting of 227 apartments over 2 basement levels, 2 buildings of 5 and 6 levels, a Coles supermarket, Liquorland and a host of specialty retailers.

M-City 

With a construction value in excess of $200 million, Clayton's M-City development is the biggest of all projects currently at tender. To be developed jointly by The Saraceno Group and Schiavello, the 3.52ha site will eventually become a unique multi-use precinct located in the Monash employment Cluster.

Billed as the largest mixed-use project within Melbourne's metropolitan area, the sheer size of M-City's construction value points toward multiple stages of the project being constructed simultaneously. Multiple residential buildings are joined by commercial and hotel components, plus a mass of retail and entertainment options that will make M-City a destination in itself.

M-City's move to construction signifies the end of a very long effort by The Saraceno Group to develop the site, having tried and failed to facilitate development onsite prior to the tie-up with Schiavello.

Seasons Doncaster East

Already sporting a number of tower cranes, Doncaster East will receive a handful move as Seasons Donacster East moves through the construction tender process.

The suburb's largest apartment project, Seasons is the effort of developer JD Group. Approximately 300 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom apartments are earmarked across the 13,340sqm site located at 180-200 Reynolds Road.

Seasons is the largest development within The Pines Activity Centre which is on the Blackburn, Reynolds and Andersons Creek Road axis and spans an area of approximately 37.5 hectares. JD Group have previously been active in the area, developing the Reynolds Gardens apartment project diagonally opposite Seasons.

252 Collins Street - The Hour Glass Refurbishment

Although quite different to the above new builds, 252 Collins Street's pending overhaul still stacks up in terms of construction value.

Home to The Hour Glass which is one of Australasia's premier luxury watch retail groups, 252 Collins Street's pending works are in excess of $50 million in value. Collins Street continues to see the refurbishment of existing buildings such as the T&G Building, Australia on Collins, Rialto, 360 Collins and 367 Collins.

Although varying in their scope and size, these refurbishments whilst solitary in their nature have had the cumulative effect of ensuring Collins Street remains Melbourne's premier retail thoroughfare.