Pipeline: Bayside, Frankston

Located 53 km from Melbourne’s CBD, at the gateway to the Mornington Peninsula, Bayside has served the Frankston community since 1971. It is a key retail destination that welcomes over 10 million customer visits each year, and is home to major retailers including Kmart, Target, Coles, Woolworths and Hoyts, and more than 155 specialty stores.

An exciting transformation is underway to create a fully-integrated mixed-use destination that connects retail, business and leisure at the heart of Frankston’s rapidly growing CBD. Vicinity’s vision is to affirm Bayside as the Mornington Peninsula’s lifestyle destination and create an experience that is curated for the community, based on growth trends and customer insights.

The transformation will deliver modern workspaces within the retail centre, reimagined retail, dining and services and improvements throughout the centre that will ensure Bayside continues to meet the changing expectations of its customers and community.

The first stage of Bayside's new and contemporary workspace precinct was completed in April 2023, with the opening of modern office suites on level two of the retail centre.

With views of the bay, the modern office suites feature glazed panels to optimise natural light and a new office lobby, seamlessly bringing together a superior office and retail experience.

Adding to convenience, the Suites also boast an upgraded link bridge entry giving workers direct access to Bayside's rooftop car park.

The suites represent another proof point in Vicinity's mixed-use redevelopment strategy, bringing CBD-quality workspaces to Frankston with the convenience that comes with Bayside’s amenities at its doorstep.

The suites leverage Bayside’s existing amenity, transport links and accessibility to meet the needs of modern workers and businesses looking for facilities closer to home, with the convenience of retail and dining just a stone’s throw away.

A new coworking space is visioned to follow, providing a range of state-of-the-art office facilities with flexible options including individual desks, offices, private meeting rooms and an event space.

This project supports the growing ‘work near home’ movement, which is seeing demand for CBD-quality workspaces in the suburbs grow as employers seek conveniently located workspaces.

Once complete, the workspace hub will bring an additional 420 workers to the centre, increasing foot traffic at the centre and reinvigorating the Frankston CBD with services to suit the contemporary community. The suites are on track for completion early 2023, with the coworking space due to open early 2024.

A retail reconfiguration is underway at Bayside, with works to create elevated precincts both through the selection of retailers and the layout, with improved connectivity between precincts. Elevated homewares, athleisure and aspirational fashion precincts will attract leading retailers including some first to Frankston brands, reaffirming Bayside as the retail mecca of Melbourne’s outer south-east suburbs.

A recharged entertainment, leisure and dining offering, complete with outdoor dining and activated laneways between precincts will revitalise Frankston, with works underway to improve public realm and create new entrance to the centre from Station Street, in preparation for the delivery of 12 Balmoral Walk.

These projects are part of Vicinity’s vision to create a contemporary destination for the community - a modern place to work, play, dine and shop.

With plans for 12 Balmoral Walk approved, leasing is underway for an anchor tenant for the state-of-the-art, eight-storey A-Grade office building. Leveraging the amenity and accessibility of Bayside, the tower will be constructed between the retail centre and entertainment and leisure precincts, bringing unbeatable convenience to future workers.

The space will feature large campus-style floor plates complemented by external terrace spaces with bay views and is a solution for organisations looking to decentralise offices for increased affordability and convenience for employees. Accessibility is assured with substantial on-site and off-site parking and less than 200 metres to key train and bus stations.

In line with Vicinity’s commitment to sustainability, the 14,000 sqm office space has been designed by Lyons Architecture to utilise an abundance of natural light to reduce energy consumption. Leading end-of-trip facilities promote active transport options and help 12 Balmoral Walk achieve strong sustainability ratings including a minimum 5-Star Green Star and 5-Star NABERS Energy ratings.

Vicinity is working with The Bunurong Land Council to consider how local indigenous art and stories can be recognised and incorporated in design.

12 Balmoral Walk represents a major boost for the evolution of Frankston's business district and the local economy with 210 jobs expected to be created during construction with the office precinct catering for over 1,400 office workers once complete.

12 Balmoral Walk development is subject to securing a tenant pre-commitment with timing confirmed in due course.

Sustainability is central to Vicinity's long-term strategy and at Bayside that takes shape throughout the project. The most significant commitment demonstrated in 12 Balmoral Walk's 5-Star Green Star and 5-Star NABERS Energy ratings targets.

As with other Vicinity developments, smart design solutions are also on show, including delivering an abundance of natural light to reduce energy consumption.

Elsewhere, the precinct enjoys leading end-of-trip facilities to promote sustainable commuting.