Hall & Wilcox advises on global award-winning social infrastructure project

We are excited to confirm that the Building Communities Consortium Ground Lease Model 2 Project has won Social Infrastructure Project of the Year at the 2024 Global Partnership Awards.

The Partnership Awards are the public-private partnership (PPP) industry’s biggest and most prestigious celebration of excellence, rewarding and showcasing the best of the industry globally.

The $800 million Ground Lease Model 2 Project (GLM2) will deliver 1370 new dwellings to replace existing social housing stock at locations in South Yarra, Port Melbourne, Prahran and Hampton East and return back to the community an increase of 20 per cent new social housing stock, as well as new affordable, market and SDA rental dwellings to deliver a much-needed housing capacity boost.

GLM2 builds largely on the massively successful Ground Lease 1 Model Project in which our award-winning team advised Community Housing (Vic) Limited (CHVL) on the structuring, investment and operations management of the project as co-equity investor and services partner. Hall & Wilcox advised CHVL again, as well as Aboriginal Community Housing (Vic) Limited as part of the successful Building Communities consortium for GLM2 as equity investor and services partners.

GLM2 is a project strongly aligned with the diversity and inclusionary values of Hall & Wilcox as it involves the dedication of housing within the project to women fleeing domestic violence (operated by Women’s Property Initiatives) and to indigenous community members (operated by Aboriginal Community Housing (Vic) Limited) – two community sectors where we provide significant pro bono advocacy.

Partner Shaun Whittaker said it was thrilling to win the award amid strong competition from projects around the world.

‘The members of the Building Communities Consortium have worked tirelessly over the past four years to deliver two incredibly successful projects under an innovative market-first model which places boosting housing capacity for community housing providers and Victorian tenants at its core, while ensuring value for money for both investors and government,’ he said.

‘This award recognises that tireless effort and the model’s potential for growth beyond Australia.’

The 25th edition of the Partnership Awards took place in London in early May, with 19 winners recognised.