The Cartmell Street project has commenced! Works on site are under way to deliver:
- Much-needed affordable housing in central Heidelberg, and
- An increase in public parking from 91 to 148 spaces. Resident parking for the development will be provided separately and will not interfere with the number of public spaces.
The sale and development is part of Council’s ongoing effort to revitalise the Heidelberg central precinct and create a more inclusive and vibrant centre.
Since the site was settled in late July, the project team has progressed or finalised:
- Letters of offer from Zinfra, needed to disconnect the existing power and provide a new power connection for the construction site – critical to starting demolition.
- A secondary consent planning application, whereby the developer was able to provide 3 additional affordable apartments following design rationalisation.
- An initial building permit to commence works on site
- Detailed architectural, services, and façade drawings
- Title consolidation
Public car park closure and alternatives
From 28 July 2025, the Cartmell Street public car park was temporarily closed. The car park is currently anticipated to re-open when construction works are complete early 2027.
We understand the temporary closure may cause some disruption. Council will closely monitor parking availability in the area and may consider providing support.
Alternative public car parks are available at:
- Cape Street, south of Burgundy Street
- Hawdon Street, south of Burgundy Street
There is more parking a short walk from the town centre at Heidelberg Park, off Beverley Road.
Construction completion
The construction works are expected to take approximately 18 months and be completed in early 2027.
Northern elevation of the development, along Cartmell Street.
Project timeline
- 12 April 2021 Council meeting, Council started the statutory process of its intention to sell the airspace above the existing carpark to deliver a multi-level residential/mixed use development above the public carpark.
- 4 October 2021 Council meeting, Council decided to proceed with selling the land after going through the process and considering objections received.
- 19 April 2023 planning permit application lodged, for Council's development planning team to review, advertise through the public notice process and consider details of the development proposal
- 11 December 2023 Council meeting, Council decided to issue a Notice of Decision to grant a Planning Permit
- 15 January 2024 permit issued, Council following the Notice of Decision process, issued planning permit P366/2023 with conditions
- 20 May 2024 VCAT hearing, Hallmarc appealed conditions of the Council permit at Victorian Cival and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). The applicant and Council presented their case to VCAT member, K Birtwistle
- 5 June 2024 VCAT order issued, directing Council to issue a modified planning permit that retains, varies and deletes some conditions of the permit originally issued by Council
- 23 April 2025 permit amendment, the applicant Hallmarc lodged an amendment to reduce the number of basement car parks
- 10 June 2025 plans stamped, after reviewing all supplied documentation and plans, Council issued endorsed plans for the land clearing the way for the next steps of the development to proceed
- 1 July 2025, settlement transfer of the site
- 28 July 2025 car park closes, temporary closure of public car park starts
- August – October 2025 developer finalises building and planning permit requirements, signs letters of offer from service authorities
- October 2025 construction starts
- 2027 car park opens, Cartmell Street public car park reopens with increased capacity