Plans are progressing on transforming the old Darling Mill site at Albion into a ‘transport- oriented development’ featuring residential, retail and hotel uses.
Construction company Pelligra Group, in its submission to Plan Melbourne, said the development would be in keeping with Sunshine’s emerging national employment cluster.
The John Darling and Son flour mill buildings date back to 1926.
Pelligra submitted that investment at the Albion site would ensure jobs being created close to where people live and would provide a “greater range of shopping, recreation and housing choice”.
“Close to Sunshine, the location is premium and could potentially draw major tenants,” the submission stated. “Few other locations in the western corridor could provide this type of office accommodation.”
David Brown, national operations head for property consultants MacroPlanDimasi, said builders were “currently working through heritage items on the site”.
Brimbank council city development director Stuart Menzies said the historic site had been identified by council as suitable for development.
In its own submission to Plan Melbourne, the council called on the government to ensure all trains on the Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat lines stop at Sunshine station.
It also called for construction of a Melbourne airport rail link via Albion East, an electrified rail line to Caroline Springs, and better recognition of local tourism sites and parks.
