Bell-Bardia, Heidelberg West – Stage One

Construction of the Bell-Bardia stage one project is scheduled to commence in 2025 and be completed in 2027. 

Tenants who lived in the previous housing at the site will be the first people invited to return to the new homes. The remaining social housing will be allocated through the Victorian Housing Register, including people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, older women, Aboriginal Victorians, and people with a disability. 

The affordable homes will be allocated through Homes Victoria’s Affordable Program, available to people who meet the eligibility criteria. Homes Victoria’s Affordable Program provides a unique alternative to the private rental market to help low to moderate income renters living in Victoria, gain access to high quality and secure housing at an affordable rent. 

Under the program, rents are set at least 10% below the area’s median market rent, with the added protection of a cap set at 30% of the median income. Fixed-term rental agreements of three years ensure that all homes start affordable and stay affordable. 

The Stage one development proposal involves construction of 104 new homes on approximately one quarter of the 3.2-hectare site between Bell St and Bardia St, Heidelberg West. This section of the site was previously occupied by 8 social homes. We’ll be replacing these homes with 53 social homes and 51 affordable homes, resulting in a significant increase in housing at the site. 

There are currently no confirmed plans for any other stages of development at the site. 

The new homes at the Bell-Bardia stage one site will be all electric with a 5-star Green Star rating, and 7-star NatHERS average rating. These energy-efficient homes will be more comfortable and cheaper to heat and cool all year round.  

The new homes will be tenure blind. This means that the social and affordable rental homes will be built to the same standard and look the same. You can view the development plans at the Bell-Bardia,  Heidelberg West - Proposed development plans website. 

We held 2 phases of consultation to plan the future of the Bell-Bardia housing site.  

Phase one consultation was held in July 2024 and phase 2 consultation was held in November 2024.  

For more information about the community consultation please visit our Bell-Bardia Engage Victoria webpage.  

Thank you to everyone who took part in the consultation process.