Victorian Urban Villages Project

This project applied the concept of 'urban villages' to Melbourne to determine the capacity for existing centres to take the predicted population growth of the metropolis within the existing built-up area over a twenty year period.  

This $1m research project was a joint initiative of four government agencies - Energy Victoria, the EPA, Department of Infrastructure and the Energy Research and Development Corporation.  

Potential urban villages were defined as sites within the existing urban area with a public transport stop and the potential for residences and workplaces.  The almost one thousand sites identified covered only 27% of the urban area.

To determine the potential for redevelopment, detailed redevelopment proposals were prepared for eight case study sites, ranging from a tram stop and corner store surrounded by residential uses to a major mixed-use centre with several public transport lines. 

Six scenarios were prepared to determine the distribution of new dwellings across the metropolis.  In the 'upper bound' scenario, development of 800 sites to the maximum potential would accommodate 76% of the predicted dwelling increase, and require the metro area to expand by only 1%.

The study made estimates of the reductions in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.  At its best, urban village development would reduce energy use and emissions by over 14% compared to business as usual.  
 
Nathan Alexander led the research team, oversaw eight consultant teams, and was the prime author of the published planning report and summary report.

The study identified almost one thousand existing centres that could accommodate most of Melbourne's predicted growth.