571-589 Melbourne Road, Spotswood
Client: Vega One
Project type: Residential (apartments, townhouses)
Stakeholders: Hobsons Bay City Council, VPA, local community
Value: $14 million
Images courtesy of CHT Architects
The project
In 2018, Vega One purchased the site of the former Spotswood Railway Workshops from VicTrack. They came to UPco with a bold ambition: to redeveloping the 4.75ha site into a holistic mixed-use lifestyle destination, integrating residential, commercial, entertainment and garden precincts.
Building A is in the residential precinct, and the first step of a staged application. It was designed to accommodate 47 apartments and 11 double-storey townhouses over four storeys, with generous car and bicycle parking and both indoor and landscaped communal spaces. Mindful of the environment, the design achieved ‘ESD Excellence’ in its BESS score.
In 2018, Vega One purchased the site of the former Spotswood Railway Workshops from VicTrack. They came to UPco with a bold ambition: to redeveloping the 4.75ha site into a holistic mixed-use lifestyle destination, integrating residential, commercial, entertainment and garden precincts.
Building A is in the residential precinct, and the first step of a staged application. It was designed to accommodate 47 apartments and 11 double-storey townhouses over four storeys, with generous car and bicycle parking and both indoor and landscaped communal spaces. Mindful of the environment, the design achieved ‘ESD Excellence’ in its BESS score.
The challenge
From time to time, we come across certain projects where the planning policy provides limited guidance. Spotswood Yards was one of them. There was ambiguity around what was expected for the former VicTrack site. So, alongside a talented project team, we waded through and created a plan.
Our client engaged a highly regarded urban design consultancy, Kinetica, to prepare a sitewide masterplan. UPco advised on the statutory aspects of this holistic redevelopment – a plan that wasn’t required by Council, but was ultimately helpful in securing the permit.
Our client engaged a highly regarded urban design consultancy, Kinetica, to prepare a sitewide masterplan. UPco advised on the statutory aspects of this holistic redevelopment – a plan that wasn’t required by Council, but was ultimately helpful in securing the permit.
The outcome
Due to meticulous planning within impressive timeframes, the project was eligible for the Victorian Planning Authority’s Fast Track program – a State Government initiative designed to boost planning and infrastructure projects as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result, a permit was granted for Building A in 2021 and the development is now shovel-ready. Building A of Spotswood Yards is just the first step in this emerging residential haven, just west of Melbourne. At UPco, we are proud to have been part of the project so far, and look forward to sharing the journey as it unfolds.
As a result, a permit was granted for Building A in 2021 and the development is now shovel-ready. Building A of Spotswood Yards is just the first step in this emerging residential haven, just west of Melbourne. At UPco, we are proud to have been part of the project so far, and look forward to sharing the journey as it unfolds.