In a plan to “redefine the skyline,” developers will be allowed to build towers up to 40 stories in the inner north-west suburb of Arden.

The plans to create homes for 15,000 new residents and 34,000 jobs was revealed in the draft Arden precinct structure plan released by the Victorian Planning Authority and the City of Melbourne.

It centers around the Melbourne Metro Tunnel project’s new Arden Station and includes 50 hectares of land between Macaulay Road, Dryburgh Street and Moonee Ponds Creek to be developed by 2050.

“The introduction of mid-rise (7-to-15-stories in Arden Central and Laurens Street) and high-rise (16 stories and taller in Arden North) development in Arden, with some low-rise development (up to and including six stories) will redefine the skyline of this part of Melbourne,” according to the plans.

“Arden’s taller skyline will stand out from the stretch of low to mid-rise development along the Moonee Ponds Creek from Docklands through to Flemington.”

Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said the new growth area will complement the neighbouring Parkville biomedical innovation and research hub.

“This brand new precinct will be serviced by three train stations with the Metro tunnel connecting it to the city, Parkville and the western suburbs,” Allan said.

Lord Mayor of Melbourne Sally Capp said the draft plan was open for public consultation until 9 August 2020.

“We want the Arden precinct to set a new standard in urban renewal and to do that we need to hear the community’s views on what they want included in the final plan,” Capp said.

Sustainability was at the forefront of the plans for the precinct as the local government “aspires to be a net-zero carbon municipality by 2040.”

However the former swamp land is prone to flooding and drainage problems which would need to be considered in line with climate change projections including the rising sea level and more extreme rainfall events.

The suburb mainly consists of large industrial blocks and smaller residential pockets as well as the Melbourne Metro Tunnel construction site.

The Victorian government has the largest land holding in the area bound by Arden Street, Barwise Street, and Laurens Street.

Weston Milling, the Lost Dogs Home and Citywide are the other major landholders in the suburb.

For more on this story, go to The Urban Developer.