Victorian government selects Hostplus-Hamton consortium for Arden renewal

The Victorian government has selected a consortium led by Hostplus and the Hamton group to develop the Arden Central urban renewal precinct in North Melbourne. The 13.5-hectare site, located near the new Metro Tunnel station, is expected to yield approximately 5,000 homes.

The decision has drawn scrutiny because the selected bid proposes a completion date of 2052, which is 15 years later than a rival proposal from Lendlease that aimed for 2037. While the Hamton-Hostplus bid offers a slightly higher number of dwellings, the significant delay in total project completion has raised questions regarding housing supply timelines in Victoria.

Both shortlisted bidders met the government's initial requirements, which included delivering at least 1,000 dwellings in the first phase by 2030 and an overall target of at least 2,400 homes. The project is considered a flagship urban renewal site for the state Labor government.