Sustainable Urban Form and the Shopping Centre: An Investigation of Activity Centres in Melbourne's Growth Areas

Abstract

In Victoria the current strategic plan intended to underpin the future growth in Melbourne, Melbourne 2030, adopts the framework of sustainability as its guiding ethos. Melbourne 2030 makes clear a preferred form for new activity centres through performance criteria and guidelines on preferable layout and structure. The research presented in this article consists of an analysis of 17 activity centres which have been planned for or built on greenfield sites in three growth areas of metropolitan Melbourne since 2002. These activity centres are rated against a framework of sustainability criteria adapted from Melbourne 2030. The study found that in many cases the recommended form and location of new centres are not being adopted and possible explanations are advanced.