About the project
Homes Victoria together with not-for-profit project partner, Building Communities including builder, ICON is redeveloping the Simmons Street (Horace Petty) housing site, in South Yarra to provide more social, affordable, market and specialist disability rental homes.
The project will help to improve housing affordability by building 522 new modern and energy efficient homes in places where people want to live while also achieving a 34% increase in social housing.
New and improved community infrastructure such as spaces for a new cafe, bakery, gym and co-working area will be delivered as part of this project.
Quality green open spaces and landscaped zones will also be part of the development for residents and the community to enjoy.
All new homes at Simmons Street will be delivered under a Ground Lease Model, where Homes Victoria leases the land to Building Communities to finance, design, build, operate and maintain the new homes over a 40-year term. This means that all land will remain in public ownership. There will be no sale of public land.
Project update
We have now received planning approval from the Minister for Planning to deliver this important housing project.
Builder, ICON will continue securing and preparing the Simmons Street site ahead of construction which is due to commence by late 2024.
Once the new homes are complete, they will be managed by one of Victoria’s leading not for profit housing organisations - Community Housing Limited (CHL). CHL will be based at the site delivering tenancy management services and regular maintenance, along with community development programs.
Fast Facts
The 24,900 square metre Simmons Street project is located just 4km from Melbourne’s city centre in the suburb of South Yarra, and is ideally positioned close to public transport, jobs, shops and services.
The previous 204 social homes at Simmons Street will be replaced with 522 new homes that will include a mix of 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-bedrooms to better meet housing demand in Victoria. All previous tenants of Simmons Street will be invited to return once the project is complete and will retain their existing rights and conditions including a secure lease.
The new homes at Simmons Street will be leased for a 40-year term to not-for-profit project partner, Building Communities which includes ICON as the builder, and Community Housing Limited as the community housing provider. All the land at Simmons Street will remain in public ownership. There will be no sale of public land.
New social housing at the site will be more comfortable and less expensive to heat and cool with a 5-star Green Star rating, and 7-star NatHERS average rating.
New homes at Simmons Street will include specialist disability accommodation.
The Simmons Street development will better integrate with the surrounding neighbourhood and provide quality open spaces that residents and the community can enjoy, including a play space and community garden.
The Ground Lease Model 2 projects located in South Yarra, Hampton East, Port Melbourne and Prahran will support approximately 7,600 jobs across the Victorian economy.
Community consultation
We held two stages of consultation on the Simmons Street project to hear feedback from the community about our plans to redevelop the site.
Stage one community consultation was held between June and July 2022, and stage 2 community consultation was held between November and December 2023.
Feedback received during the consultation period helped to inform our final plans to redevelop the site and we would like to thank everyone who took part in this process.
For more information about how we engaged the community and to learn about the consultation process, please visit our Simmons Street and Essex Street Engage Victoria webpage.
You can also read the stage 2 consultation report summary for the Simmons Street project here.
Project timeline
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Project announcement
December 2021
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Residents at Simmons Street supported to relocate
December 2021 onwards
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Stage 1 community consultation
June-July 2022
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Enabling works commencement
Early 2023
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Appointment of project group to deliver project
Late 2023
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Stage 2- community consultation
23 November - 20 December 2023
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Main works construction commencement (pending approvals)
Late 2024
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Construction completion
By the end of 2026
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Renters welcomed back to new homes
From late 2026
Fact sheets
Translated Factsheets
Contact us
Email icon:For information about the redevelopment of Simmons Street in South Yarra please contact ICON’s 24-hour hotline on (03) 9389 3619 or email community.questions@icon.co.
For information about how Homes Victoria is delivering more and better homes for Victoria please contact southyarra@homes.vic.gov.au