Melbourne Eyes Office Adaptive Reuse Guidelines

Melbourne’s acting Lord Mayor, Nicholas Reece, has signalled he will this week put forward new guidelines for the adaptive reuse of office buildings in the CBD

Reece’s motion, seconded by Cr Rohan Leppert, is due to be made at the City of Melbourne’s planning committee meeting on February 20.

Reece has proposed that the guidelines take the form of an Industry Guidance Note that will complement the recently released Retrofit Melbourne plan.

“There are many developers in Melbourne who are interested in converting their office buildings to residential buildings, which we very much welcome—but it can be a complex process,” Reece told The Urban Developer before the meeting. 

“The proposed changes will help make it as clear and easy as possible for building owners and developers who are considering switching up how their office buildings are used.”

The motion also suggests that the guidance note be published by June, 2024 and that it considers other documents and measures by other Australian and global cities.

Some of those other measures include the New York’s Office Conversion Accelerator Program, which provides a dedicated planning team for office-to-residential conversions and has published similar guidance on adaptive reuse.

It also suggests that the guidance note allow developers and property owners to meet council planning officers before a submission.

The council is converting one of its buildings, at 602 Bourke Street, into supported social-housing accommodation as part of its Make Room project. Reece has also suggested that this project be used as a pilot project for adaptive reuse as part of the guidance note.

▲ City of Melbourne Deputy Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece wants to enshrine guidelines on adaptive reuse of office buildings in the city.

Although the City of Melbourne has a particular focus on affordable housing, Reece told The Urban Developer that adaptive reuse could mean converting offices to other uses other than residential.

“If endorsed, it will mean the City of Melbourne will produce and publish updated guidelines for industry on how they can convert their office buildings for residential, education, health or hospitality use,” Reece said.

“The city will also offer a new pre-application service so we can meet with industry as early as possible to help with the assessment and facilitation of their adaptive reuse project.”

Globally, interest in converting office to other uses, including residential, driven by the downturn in commercial space demand due to a host of factors, including the post-pandemic rise of work from home, is on the rise.