Victoria University has signed a partnership agreement with the Swiss-based McCall MacBain Foundation and its investment arm to fund development of a 13-storey student village in Footscray.
The foundation is funding the 500-bed complex, with ownership of the buildings to revert to the university after 35 years.
Chairman John McCall-MacBain turned the first sod last Wednesday to start the village’s construction on the existing student car park on Ballarat Road.
Mr McCall-MacBain said the foundation would also donate $250,000 to a VU scholarship fund.
State Higher Education Minister Nick Wakeling provided conditional approval for the project on June 6. But as reported by
Star Weekly, neighbours have criticised the lack of consultation and say the scale is out of keeping with the area.
They have raised fears about the height of the buildings, lack of parking, loss of privacy and the impact of prolonged construction.
VU has previously said its existing student accommodation at the student village in Maidstone was well past its use-by date.
An Education Department spokesman said the building would allow the university to provide quality accommodation options for students at the Footscray Park campus.
The project is due to be completed by January 2016.
