Level Crossing Removal Project Urban Design Guidelines

The Victorian Government established the LXRP to oversee one of the largest rail infrastructure projects in the State’s history. The challenge is to remove 85 dangerous and congested level crossings by 2025 while enhancing station and neighbourhood precincts to leave an enduring legacy for communities across Melbourne. 

Each project site – whether it be a level crossing removal, new station, road or associated development site – has its own unique character, ‘sense of place’ and distinct urban design issues and opportunities. 

Every place must be analysed as a specific and distinct opportunity. Furthermore, achieving consistently high-quality urban design outcomes across the entire program is paramount, and places delivered in conjunction or along the same corridor must contribute to a consistent line-wide identity.

The LXRP Urban Design Guidelines (Guidelines) build on the principles, objectives, measures and benchmarks of the overarching LXRP Urban Design Framework (Framework), which is a commitment by LXRP to achieve high-quality urban design outcomes and maximise positive impact through collaborative, multi-disciplinary and integrated design thinking.

Guidelines are prepared for each level crossing removal project, outlining: 

• Existing site conditions at a local and regional level and why these are important for the project. 
• Relevant state, local and project-specific plans, policies and strategies, noting relevant implications for the site. 
• Key considerations and themes that have emerged from stakeholder engagement and community consultation. 
• Issues and opportunities for the site and precinct, based on the preceding analysis and consultation.

This information is used to: 

• Articulate the broader urban design vision and strategic objectives for the site. 
• Identify key issues and opportunities for improving connectivity, amenity, functionality and place-making for the site, surrounding precinct and corridor. 
• Establish site-specific design guidelines for the project in accordance with the overarching Framework.
• The Guidelines, together with the Framework and Project Requirements Specification, form the set of urban design briefing documents that Alliance members must address when developing the design response for each project site. 

Proposed design solutions must achieve the vision, principles and strategic objectives set out in the site-specific Guidelines, and address the principles, objectives, measures and benchmarks set out in the overarching Framework. 

Establishing key design initiatives that consider the long-term opportunities for a place and community during early stages can act as a catalyst to unlock transformative urban integration and urban renewal opportunities.