Our vision is to revitalise the heart of Box Hill’s CBD. We will create a bustling new town square surrounded by a contemporary mix of residential, commercial, retail and lifestyle destinations to serve Melbourne’s growing east for decades to come.

Connecting people, liveability and visitor experience are at the core of our plans and include breathing new life into the town’s centre through the creation of an activated, vibrant and prosperous city – a place to not only shop, but to live, work, rest and play.

The vision includes:

• ~250,000 sqm flexible mixed-use development potential
• ~5,000 sqm accessible open spaces
• ~1700 apartments – mix of one, two and three bedroom
• 6% of apartments to be delivered as Affordable Housing
• ~80,000 sqm new commercial workplaces for over 5,000 workers
• ~4,000 sqm retail space

In September 2022, we celebrated an exciting milestone in the Box Hill Central transformation, delivering upgrades including:

• A new outdoor dining precinct on Carrington Road, bringing dual-frontage dining outlets that celebrate Box Hill’s cultural diversity
• A new entrance to the centre from Carrington Road to improve access and engagement with the surrounding streets
• A brand-new Coles supermarket
• Major ambience upgrades including new facades, floors, ceilings, furniture and lighting to improve our customer experience
• Three new travelators and a new customer lift connecting all levels of the car park

In February 2023, we also completed a 4,100 sqm co-working facility across four storeys above the refreshed retail precinct. Hub Australia opened their first 'Hub Local' site here on 1 March 2023.

Box Hill Central has served locals and visitors as a premier venue for retail, fresh food and dining experiences over four decades, and the masterplan will unlock the site’s potential and adapt to future population growth demands.

We are excited about our vision to create a vibrant new town centre – a place to not only shop, but to live, work, rest and play, with a contemporary mix of residential, commercial, retail and dining destinations.

Box Hill has already been identified by the Victorian Government as a Metropolitan Activity Centre, providing a diverse range of jobs, activities and housing surrounding existing public transport links and home to tertiary education institutions and major public and private health infrastructure. Box Hill is also one of Melbourne’s busiest transport hubs, major tram, train and bus networks intersecting at the centre.

With forecast growth of 3 per cent to 5 per cent per annum, Box Hill’s population is expected to grow at around double the pace of Greater Melbourne, so the time is right to strengthen this asset with a mixed-use redevelopment.

Our vision for Box Hill Central aligns with the Victorian Government’s Plan Melbourne initiative, which identifies Box Hill as a key Metropolitan Activity Centre. Our masterplan will result in better connectivity to public transport, health and education services, and bring a contemporary mix of residential, commercial, retail and lifestyle destinations to support the growing east for decades to come.

The masterplan reflects the City of Whitehorse’s aspirations for a vibrant town centre, with a new town square and amphitheatre, an urban park, green open spaces and increased walkability of the shopping centre and surrounding streets included.

Vicinity will continue to work closely with both the City of Whitehorse and the Suburban Rail Loop Authority to ensure the plans are coordinated with and take into consideration future transport outcomes. 

We have been working closely with the Council and Suburban Rail Loop Authority to ensure the plans are coordinated with and take into consideration future transport outcomes. The proposed Suburban Rail Loop will further extend Box Hill’s connectivity to suburban Melbourne, with the first stage of the proposal including a station at Box Hill, right at the entrance to our centre, which will reaffirm the centre’s status as a major commuter hub for Melbourne’s eastern suburbs and city.

We are seeking planning approvals for the proposed development from the Victorian Government, and working closely with the City of Whitehorse.

The application for the Box Hill Central North Masterplan requires the final approval of the Victorian Minister for Planning. Once approved, the masterplan is inserted into the Whitehorse Planning Scheme, which is used to guide the future use, development and any subdivision of the land on the site of Box Hill Central North. Any development request under the Whitehorse Planning Scheme will require further detailed plans.

We are currently seeking approval for a development application for the Box Hill Central masterplan by the Department of Transport and Planning, and the process is ongoing. The masterplan application included 280,000 sqm of development floor space across six individual lots.

In May 2022, Whitehorse City Council endorsed Vicinity’s plans for:

• 3,350 sqm of new public space including new pedestrian and road connections and a centralised plaza and amphitheatre space
• A 48-level residential tower which comprises of 366 apartments, 7360sqm of office space, 760 sqm of retail space and more than 220 car parks
• A 25-level office tower which comprises of 42,800 sqm of office space, 1,300 sqm of retail space and more than 200 car parks

Visit planning.vic.gov.au/have-your-say for a comprehensive package of technical reports and planning documentation.

We are excited to share plans for the transformation of the heart of Box Hill, incorporating a mix of residential, commercial, retail and lifestyle destinations to serve Melbourne's eastern suburbs for decades to come.

Plans include:

• A town square and Spanish-steps inspired amphitheatre to host events and activities
• Fresh food and dining experiences
• A landscaped urban park and open green spaces
• Extending Main Street and widening the mall
• Creating new cycling and walking paths to connect precincts
• Contributing land to allow the construction of a pedestrian overpass across the rail line to improve access
• Creating a more sustainable environment

The total construction cost is estimated at $1.6 billion, and the redevelopment is expected to contribute close to $120 million to the Victorian economy each year during construction.

Vicinity’s redevelopment of Box Hill Central will generate more than 850 jobs annually during construction. Upon completion, there will be up to 6,000 additional jobs supported in the Box Hill’s CBD.

The masterplan application is for approximately 250,000 sqm of development space across six individual lots.

Vicinity owns the land Box Hill Central is located on, therefore there isn’t any need for any further land acquisition required to deliver the project master plan.

Building heights are between 19 and 48 habitable storeys, consistent with the area’s planning scheme and plans for urban growth.

All buildings proposed within the masterplan will be designed to minimise effects of wind and maximise access to sunlight on the newly created town square and amphitheatre to ensure these spaces provide great levels of amenity for the local community to enjoy.

We have undertaken a significant amount of wind modelling and wind tunnel testing to inform the masterplan and ensure appropriate wind conditions are achieved. The master plan includes landscaped areas, covered laneways, and canopies to further mitigate wind impacts and provide highly useable public spaces. We are committed to exploring further mitigation strategies to minimise the impacts of wind as we move through the planning process.

The plan will contribute to housing diversity and affordability within the City of Whitehorse, with up to six percent of the residential capacity confirmed as affordable housing.

Bringing our vision to life over the next decade will have significant economic benefit to the local economy, including:

• ~850 construction jobs annually
• ~5,500 supportable full-time equivalent jobs at capacity
• ~$1.6 billion total construction cost
• ~$120 million will be contributed to Victoria’s economy each year during construction

Significant sustainability commitments have been considered for the proposed development at Box Hill Central. These include:

• The precinct will target a minimum 5-star Greenstar certification for all buildings.
• When designing the precinct, integrated water management was integral to our thinking around how to best manage stormwater and reuse. We also worked very carefully with the design team to ensure natural light flowed into the apartments and the glass and shading specification and arrangement reduces heat load and energy use.
• Plans were designed with a strong pedestrian focus in mind. Part of the upgrades to the public realm includes an east-west connection that will significantly improve connectivity and walkability within the precinct.
• Additionally, extensive cyclist facilities have been included, acknowledging the modal shift away from the reliance on private motor vehicle usage and encouraging use of Box Hill’s outstanding public transport links.

Current projections target construction commencement during 2024, subject to relevant approvals, with an approximate 10-year staged delivery. The projects will be delivered in stages.

Vicinity follows the guidelines regulated by the Environment Protection Authority Victoria for construction noise across its building sites. We take care to comply with construction noise guidelines to minimise impact to customers, retailers and the community, and will monitor accordingly throughout the project’s delivery.

For construction impacts such as noise, dust and light spill, we will work closely with the construction team to identify potential impacts and take appropriate action to minimise these as much as possible.

Mitigation activities include:

• using watercarts onsite to minimise dust generation
• covering stockpiles and truck loads when leaving the area
• using street sweepers on local roads to reduce debris
• avoiding certain works during dry and windy conditions
• using low noise emitting equipment where possible
• regularly servicing onsite equipment.

Construction will take a phased approach to minimise disruptions to neighbouring retailers, customers and the community. Box Hill Central will remain open and trading and we are committed to working with our retailers who may be impacted during the proposed redevelopment. We will inform you of any changes via our website.

The plan is designed to take advantage of Box Hill’s exceptional public transport links (including the Suburban Rail Loop) and its connections to surrounding health and education facilities.

Our plans support a more integrated traffic network for all road users, prioritising pedestrian access throughout Box Hill via the creation of a new street network linking Prospect Street and Clisby Court, improved cycling access, generous bike parking and better access to public transport.

During construction works, traffic management will be in place to ensure pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles can move safely through the area. Please observe vehicle speed signs in place. For any detours, please observe the signage boards in place with road detour information.

Both the commercial office and residential buildings will include car spaces for workers and residents, bringing an additional ~1440 car park spaces to Box Hill Central.

The planned extension of Main Street and Prospect Street will provide greater access through Box Hill’s town centre for pedestrians, cyclists and cars. The redevelopment encourages public transport and active transport options like walking and cycling.

Our plans will breathe life into the town centre, with elements designed specifically for the community, including a new town square, Spanish-steps inspired amphitheatre and landscaped urban parks.

With more green open spaces and improved walkways, Box Hill Central will have more space for the public to enjoy and foster better connectivity between the residential, commercial, retail and dining destinations within the mixed-use precinct.

The plan will contribute to housing diversity and affordability within the City of Whitehorse, with six percent of the residential capacity committed to be affordable housing.

As part of transforming Box Hill Central’s retail offering, several structural design changes have been included, such as a new entrance on Carrington Road, widened mall, new lifts and travelators, and improved parking.

The first stage of the development will require demolition of the existing Box Hill Central North shopping centre (formerly Whitehorse Plaza). We remain committed to working with retailers who may be impacted during the development, to keep them informed of progress and discuss any potential options.

Consultation with impacted retail partners is underway and we will continue to support them with regular communications including retailer information sessions and one-on-one meetings to discuss potential relocation opportunities at Box Hill Central, including in the new spaces we are creating in the mixed-use precinct.

Vicinity recognises a significant opportunity to drive greater value from its portfolio by transforming existing retail assets into mixed-use precincts.

We are focused on our development pipeline and transforming our portfolio into leading retail destinations surrounded by diverse, mixed-use precincts. Our projects range from retail-focused ambience upgrades that enhance customer experiences, to city-shaping mixed-use projects.

Vicinity has the assets, the land, and the expertise to create world-class precincts to meet the changing needs of the community. You can find out more about our developments here.

We’re continuing to actively consider mixed-use additions like offices, hotels and residential to complement our existing retail offer, especially in locations where good transport connections already exist.

In Melbourne, we’re progressing planning at Victoria Gardens, Richmond, for both a retail expansion and mixed-use development opportunity, while at Chadstone we will continue to build our mixed-use precinct with the delivery of an integrated office tower, One Middle Road.

Additionally, in Sydney we have delivered the first stage of our Bankstown Central transformation, focusing on a retail refresh and revitalised fresh food market, with future plans to create an integrated, mixed-use community.

In Queensland, at Buranda Village we plan to develop the site into a retail, residential and commercial office village for the community to enjoy every day of the week.

With all our developments, we continue to monitor and respond to both community and market demands. Find out more about our developments here.