Victoria to replace 44 high-rise public housing towers

The Victorian government has announced a plan to demolish and redevelop 44 high-rise public housing towers in what would be Australia's biggest urban renewal project.

The project has been proposed in a bid to deliver more social and affordable housing and meet demand for supply.

Constructed between the 1950s and 1970s, Victorian premier Daniel Andrews described the buildings as outdated and no longer fit for modern living standards.

In a published media statement, the Victorian government said the towers would fail current building codes in relation to "noise, sustainability, waste and recycling, bedroom area dimensions, room depth, ventilation, private open space, accessibility and minimum amenity standards."

"If Homes Victoria undertook only critical capital repairs and maintenance to the 44 towers, it'd cost an estimated $2.3 billion over the next 20 years - roughly $55 million per tower. But even then, their design means many homes would never be able to meet contemporary codes, nationwide energy rating schemes or accessibility needs," the statement reads.

Two towers in Flemington, one in North Melbourne and two in Carlton are first on the list to be knocked down. Across Flemington and North Melbourne, 503 dwellings will be replaced with 1,800 new homes and in Carlton, 231 homes will replace 196 existing apartments - an increase in home supply of 18 per cent.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the project would be Australia's biggest urban renewal development.