Kensington redevelopment

The Kensington redevelopment is a landmark Victorian Government project that will transform what was a run-down, 35-year-old housing estate into a reinvigorated living environment for all residents in the area.

The site originally comprised 15 walk-up blocks and three high-rise blocks. All the walk-up flats and one high-rise tower have been demolished.

The redevelopment work consists of upgrading the two remaining high-rise blocks (94 Ormond St and 56 Derby St), and the redevelopment of the remaining area with public and private housing and associated infrastructure.

In July 2002, the Director of Housing signed a Development Agreement for the redevelopment work with the Becton Group. The redevelopment is being project managed by Property Services Office of Housing.

The redevelopment plan has been endorsed by Melbourne City Council and guided by the Kensington Community Liaison Committee, currently chaired by local pharmacist Irvine Newton, to represent the interests of the local community.

The redevelopment will:

• Improve public housing by building 195 new public housing units integrated among 450 private properties. Including the remaining high-rise units, public housing will continue to comprise more than 50 per cent of the dwellings on the site.  
• Boost the local community and create jobs providing an estimated 300 jobs over the life of the redevelopment
• Deliver better services by providing better housing, close to the city and linked to a range of support services

The Government has put in place a comprehensive plan to manage the relocation of residents through each stage of the redevelopment, working closely with the local community through the Kensington Community Liaison Committee.

Becton, a privately owned Australian company that was awarded the contract to develop new housing at Kensington, have planned the work to occur in ten stages.

In order to maintain consistency of service and housing options across the site, Urban Communities Limited has been established to provide tenancy services, facilities management of common areas and support community development work on the redevelopment site.

Urban Communities Limited is a stand alone, not-for-profit company.  You can contact them at 42 Derby Street, Kensington or by telephone on (03) 9371 2000.

Social impact study

Swinburne University have produced an action research study on the social impact study of the re-development.  Read the   Social Impact Final Report (PDF Size: 1.93mb, Pages 196).

The Kensington Community Liaison Committee have produced a response to the recommendations in the social impact study.  Read the    Social Impact Study Comments (PDF Size: 177kb, Pages 38).