In November 2024, the Victorian Minister for Planning approved a planning permit for the development of 39 social housing dwellings at 2-12 Wilkinson Street, Brunswick. This is a $26million social housing project that will deliver safe and affordable homes for people with close ties to Merri-bek.
The land was initially transferred by Council to Merri-bek Affordable Housing LTD (MAH) in 2021 in an effort to address the community’s desire and need for more social and affordable housing in
Merri-bek.
Thank you for your submissions!
The decision to proceed with the sale of 2-12 Wilkinson Street, Brunswick was made following community consultation.
Between 12 July and 9 August 2021 we received 140 written submissions providing feedback on the proposal.
Thanks to all of you for taking the time and care to provide your feedback. You can find the submissions and an analysis report on them in the Document Library on this page.
Parking changes 2025
As part of this affordable housing development, the western car park of 2-12 Wilkinson Street, Brunswick will be decommissioned from 24 March 2025.
A total of 32 parking spaces will be affected.
Of these 32 bays, 16 are business permit parking spaces, and 16 are ticketed
parking spaces.
The business permit parking spaces being decommissioned on Wilkinson Street will be relocated to 15-17 Frith Street. These new business parking spaces will be installed on 17 March and will have timed restrictions for permit holders between 8am-6pm. Current business permits for 2-12 Wilkinson Street will automatically be transferred to be valid for the new car parks on 15-17 Frith Street.
The ticketed parking that has been available in this car park is not being relocated as part of this project.
Project history
At its meeting on 8 September 2021 Merri-bek City Council voted in favour of a recommendation from Council officers to proceed with the sale of 2-12 Wilkinson Street, Brunswick.
Our community told us they want to see more social and affordable housing options in Merri-bek so we are taking steps in this direction.
In June this year Council approved the commencement of a process to consider the sale of land at 2-12 Wilkinson Street Brunswick to Merri-bek Affordable Housing Ltd (MAH). MAH is a charitable not for profit company that was set up by Council in 2018. MAH has the express purpose to provide affordable housing options in Merri-bek.
Council will not be paid for the land, rather it will have a binding agreement on its future use to benefit the community.
The agreement will ensure that 85 per cent of the proposed 34 apartments developed on the site must be affordable housing; at least half of these will be provided as social housing.
The agreement means that the apartments must remain as affordable and social housing into the future.
In order for the sale to be finalised, MAH will need to have obtained a planning permit and demonstrate the development is financed.
