Arden Precinct
An inner-city urban renewal precinct unlocking high-density commercial, life sciences and innovation opportunities near Melbourne’s CBD.
The Arden Urban Renewal Precinct will be a large-scale employment and innovation hub, strategically developed to grow jobs and train workforce talent.
It aspires to accommodate around 34,000 jobs and 15,000 residents.
It will feature life-sciences, health, digital technology and education centres, and complement Australia’s pre-eminent biomedical cluster in Parkville.
There are plans for new campus' for the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Royal Women’s Hospital to be established in the precinct.
At a glance
- Major inner-city urban renewal precinct, located just 2km from Melbourne’s CBD
- Mixed-use, transit-oriented, sustainability-led
- New Arden Metro Tunnel station, one stop to Parkville precinct
- By 2050, home to up to 34,000 jobs and 20,000 residents
- Focus sectors: health, life sciences, technology and education.
Investment opportunities
The Victorian Government is progressing a multi-stage market process to appoint a development partner for government owned land in Arden Central, the commercial and innovation core of the precinct.
The process invites industry to contribute to the delivery of a high-density, mixed-use development, supporting employment growth, housing and innovation within a metro-anchored, inner-city location.
For current opportunities, process updates and FAQ’s visit development.vic.gov.au.
Arden Precinct
Why Arden?
Exceptional inner-city location and connectivity
- Just 2 km from Melbourne’s CBD, offering rare inner-city development scale.
- Anchored by the Arden Metro Tunnel station, providing direct rail access to Parkville, Melbourne’s CBD, and the broader metropolitan rail network.
- One stop from Parkville precinct, strengthening links to globally recognized health and research institutions.
- Transit-oriented development (TOD) model support higher employment density, reduced car dependency and strong foot traffic.
Scale and strategic urban renewal
- Planned to accommodate 34,000 jobs and 20,000 residents by 2050, providing long-term demand visibility.
- Large, predominantly government-owned landholdings enable coordinated master planning and staged delivery — a rare opportunity in inner-city areas
- Clear planning and governance framework reduces piecemeal development risk common in inner-city locations.
- Strong sustainability and urban design standards align with ESG-focused investment strategies.
Positioned at the centre of Victoria’s knowledge economy
- Complements the Parkville precinct discovery and clinical strengths by providing space and co-location opportunities for commercialisation, scale-ups and industry partnerships, particularly in medtech, pharmaceuticals, AI, machine learning and education.
- Core sectors span science, health, education, digital technology, aligned with Victoria’s priority growth areas.
- Proximity to major universities, hospitals and research institutions supports talent access and collaboration.
Key areas
- Arden Central – commercial and innovation core
- Arden North – mixed use neighbourhood, integrating commercial, residential and community assets with sustainable urban design
- Laurens Street – transition zone linking North Melbourne with new development, supports small scale commercial activity, start-ups, creative industries and residential growth.
Recent and ongoing investment
- Arden Station, part of the new Metro Tunnel
- Arden Central redevelopment
- 88 Laurens Street; a $100 million, 12-storey premium commercial building (private development)
Need assistance? We are here to help
We can help you understand how Arden precinct can be ideal for your business and provide tailored support on site availability and planning pathways.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What types of businesses are best suited to Arden?
Arden is well suited to knowledge-intensive industries, including digital technology, professional services, health innovation, education and creative industries seeking inner-city access and modern commercial space.
What makes Arden attractive for long-term investment?
Arden is a designated urban renewal precinct supported by significant government planning and infrastructure investment, including new transport connections, mixed-use development and a growing residential population.
How can Invest Victoria support my investment in Arden?
Invest Victoria can help identify suitable sites, connect you with development partners and provide guidance on government processes and incentives.
