St Albans town centre is a traditional activity centre in Melbourne’s northwest. From a compact core focused on a rail station, it has stretched along both sides of a busy main road, which has sustained it with ‘passing trade’ through much of its life. However, as this part of Melbourne has expanded, traffic has increased to the point where it is now stifling the centre, making access difficult and creating an unpleasant public realm.

We led a team that was commissioned to develop an Urban Design Framework to guide the future development of the town centre. Chief among the resulting proposals was that to create a more pedestrian-friendly and identifiable main street through improved pedestrian facilities and landscaping. The proposals also seek to enhance access to the rail station and its amenity for passengers, and better integrate a supermarket within the centre.

The Framework was adopted by Council, and the planning scheme was amended accordingly following the successful adoption of the UDF.

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