A new urban park approved by the Future Melbourne Committee will introduce 1,900 square metres of public space into the heart of Melbourne’s CBD.

Located adjacent to Cbus Property and ISPT’s landmark Collins Arch development at 447 Collins Street, the Market Street public park is the first new urban park in the Hoddle Grid since City Square was developed in 1980.

Expected to improve connectivity and walkability in the CBD’s western grid, the public park includes City of Melbourne land as well as land contributed by Cbus Property and ISPT that forms part of the development. The park will be developed by Cbus Property and handed back to City of Melbourne for public use and management.

The public will also have access to an additional 1,750 square metres of space within the Collins Arch development via a large amphitheatre. The total open space added to the block will be nearly 30 percent larger than the previous National Mutual building forecourt.

Designed by award-winning landscape architects Oculus, in collaboration with a Project Steering Committee, which includes Council and Cbus Property representatives, the park will offer a collection of unique public spaces, as well as wide bluestone paths to accommodate more pedestrians, new seating, space for programmed events and improved pedestrian access to public transport.

The new park continues to build on Cbus Property’s overall sustainability strategy.

CEO Adrian Pozzo observes the park will create a green refuge for future residents, tenants and visitors to Collins Arch and the wider CBD community.

“The park design will incorporate a number of environmentally sustainable design elements that meet the requirements of a modern and future focused city, as directed by City of Melbourne’s strategies and guidelines."

"The introduction of tree canopy, lawns and garden beds within the park will help mitigate the urban heat island effect, with the proposed Water Sensitive Urban Design elements minimising stormwater runoff. These design considerations will create a contemporary and functional public park that will benefit the overall wellbeing of the community and the city environment,” he says.

According to Claire Martin, associate director of Oculus, the park will feature a number of environmental and biophilic elements, including an extensive tree canopy of varying heights woven throughout the space to help mitigate heat, the adjacent water wall with its evaporative cooling benefits, use of local materials and place based references, and perennial borders using locally indigenous plants to increase biodiversity in the city.

The landmark $1 billion-plus mixed-use Collins Arch development will include 49,000 square metres of premium-grade office space, 940 square metres of ground floor retail space, a five-star hotel, as well as 184 luxury apartments.

Collins Arch will be completed in late 2019 while the Market Street park is scheduled for completion in 2020.