CAAMCo Plots Frankston Affordable Housing Tower

A 14-storey affordable housing tower with 62 apartments has been put forward for a site at Frankston, south of the Melbourne CBD.

The plans by CAAMCo have been filed with the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning for the residential tower proposed for a 829sq m site at 11 Beach Street.

It comprises 62 apartments, all of which would be accessible as per the Better Apartment Design Standards.

CAAMCo plans to collaborate with community housing providers once the project has been built.

Caleb Smith Architect and James Harbard Architect designed the plans for the tower, which feature only columns and a large void on the eighth storey to allow for ventilation through the building rather than creating a wind-tunnel effect at street level.

The apartments will comprise 29 one, 32 two and a single three-bedroom apartment as well as 20 carparking spaces across two basement levels.

Office space for the eventual community housing provider is provided on the ground floor along with a communal area for residents. 

There will also be bike storage facilities with 65 spaces.

An existing detached house on the site would be demolished under the scheme.

▲ The affordable housing project would feature a void on the eighth storey as part of wind-mitigation measures.

CAAMCo has previously developed projects including offices and individual homes across the Mornington Peninsula. 

The developer cited data from Frankston City Households gathered in 2021 as part of its application, saying that of the 55,490 households in the municipality, 13,457 were renting and that 34 per cent or 4599 of those experienced rental stress.

Also in the application, the developer said that 2846, or 5.4 per cent, of all Frankston households needed affordable housing as of 2021.

Frankston is a key suburb at the nexus of a population boom, with major organisations based in the suburb attracting employees and providing jobs.

It is also a tourism gateway for the Mornington Peninsula.