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Arden

A globally recognised destination for collaboration and innovation in the health, life sciences, technology, and education sectors.

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Just two kilometres from the centre of Melbourne’s CBD, the Arden Precinct presents a landmark urban renewal opportunity in an accessible and vibrant part of central Melbourne. The precinct is aiming to home to up to 34,000 jobs and around 20,000 people by 2051.

A short train ride to the Parkville Precinct(opens in a new window), Arden is set to transform into a globally recognised destination and a leading centre for Victoria’s growing knowledge industries, with quality and affordable housing to support diverse residents and key workers.

Arden Market Search Process

Development Victoria, on behalf of the Victorian Government, is leading a multi-stage market search process to select a development partner for the government owned land in the Arden Precinct, known as Arden Central. This process offers an exceptional opportunity for industry to demonstrate leadership in urban renewal and contribute to supporting population growth and the future of Victoria’s economy. For up to date information on progress of the Arden market search process, including the current stage and frequently asked questions (FAQs), please visit Development Victoria(opens in a new window).

Arden Vision

Arden will be a new destination for Melbourne, setting the standard for urban renewal. It will contribute to a future Melbourne that is not only the world’s most liveable city, but also one of the most forward- looking.

With its rapid rail connections to Parkville, the Central Business District and Melbourne’s western suburbs, Arden is ideally placed to be an international innovation and technology precinct. This new employment hub will be pivotal to the growth of Victoria’s knowledge economy and advancing Melbourne’s strengths as a progressive, innovative and connected local and global city.

The precinct will have its own civic heart and character. It will remain connected to its First Nations and industrial heritage as it changes to support a diverse resident and worker population. It will become a new neighbourhood of Melbourne with quality and affordable housing, a thriving network of open spaces, active transport links, and adaptable community facilities, schools and workspaces.

Arden will be at the forefront for sustainable development, embracing new ways to live, learn, work and travel in an energy efficient district. Water will be safely managed to become a visible feature in the landscape, while green spaces, trees and water will help the precinct become a cooler, greener version of the city.

The Moonee Ponds Creek corridor will be revitalised as a new green spine for Melbourne. It will be a celebrated waterway with a valued environmental and cultural heritage, serving recreational, biodiversity habitat and active transport functions. The creek corridor will be an essential link for Arden and neighbouring urban renewal precincts.

Partnership with all levels of government the community and the private sector will deliver the eight key directions that support the vision for Arden.

Precinct projects

Arden Vision 2018

Arden Structure Plan - July 2022

Planning Scheme Amendment (C407melb)

Metro Tunnel Project and Arden Station

Frequently asked questions

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The Victorian Government has committed to driving the transformation of Arden into a world-class innovation precinct, expected to accommodate 20,000 residents and 34,000 jobs.

Jobs will be created across the life of the Arden Precinct development. These include bio-medical, health sciences and education employment as new industries and businesses invest into the precinct as well as construction jobs resulting from development of new infrastructure and neighbourhoods.

The Victorian Government has committed to driving the transformation of Arden into a world-class innovation precinct, expected to accommodate 20,000 residents.

Arden will facilitate a mix of land uses to create an employment focused and amenity rich mixed use innovation precinct, showcasing quality and affordable housing and workspaces, a proposed government primary school, commercial uses and adaptable community facilities.

Arden’s transformation will take place over 30 years, as the precinct changes from a predominantly industrial precinct to a high-density residential, employment, innovation and community hub. Building and development associated with the amendment will only commence once the planning permit approval process for various developments has occurred.

The funding and delivery of community infrastructure to support a dynamic and major urban precinct is complex.

The Arden Development Contributions Plan provides a framework for the funding and delivery of over $350 million of critical community infrastructure to support the future Arden community.

The Victorian Government has heavily invested in the precinct with new city-shaping projects, including the new Arden Station as part of the Metro Tunnel Project.

The Victorian Government is working hard to deliver the Arden Precinct with as little impact to existing businesses as possible as we transform what is currently an industrial site into a thriving residential, employment, innovation and community hub.

The Planning Scheme Amendment C407 includes a Public Acquisition Overlay to be applied to a small number of landholdings necessary for essential flood management works including drainage, to create the proposed street network, provide open space, and other critical public infrastructure works.

The Department of Transport is working closely with businesses / organisations required to relocate and we endeavour to facilitate and support them throughout this process to minimise impacts on business operations where possible.

New community spaces and parklands are expected to be delivered in 2025 to support the opening of the new Arden Station.

The Arden Development Contributions Plan provides a framework for the funding and delivery of over $350 million of critical community infrastructure to support the future Arden community.

Developers will be encouraged to provide at least six percent affordable housing within residential developments. In addition, the Department of Transport is working to maximise the provision of social, affordable and key worker housing on government land, which is expected to exceed the 6per cent provision included within Victoria’s planning provisions.

Our plans for Arden have been shaped by the insights and priorities of the Arden community.

The Victorian Government engaged the community on the Draft Arden Vision & Framework in 2016, on the Draft Arden Structure Plan in 2020 and on the draft planning scheme amendment in 2021.

The draft planning scheme amendment was also referred an independent Standing Advisory Committee, which provided all submitters the opportunity to be heard through public hearings in 2022.

Got a question?

Email the team at precincts@transport.vic.gov.au to find out more about the precinct.

Transport

Updated 26 February 2026

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