Where Melbourne’s apartment glut is building
The Melbourne suburbs adding the most new apartments — and where the pipeline would more than double the apartments already there. Built from the state’s Urban Development Program.
Future apartment supply is one of the clearest signals of price and rent risk — a lot of new stock can cap capital growth and soften rents. This ranks Greater Melbourne suburbs by apartments recorded as under construction or firmly committed, and shows that pipeline against the apartments already there. Suburbs marked in red would more than double their apartment stock.
| Suburb | Apartments committed | ≈ % of existing stock | Existing apartments (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Docklands | 7,365 | 87% | 8,419 |
| Melbourne | 6,411 | 20% | 32,060 |
| Southbank | 5,133 | 42% | 12,359 |
| Port Melbourne | 4,909 | 117% | 4,198 |
| South Melbourne | 4,024 | 113% | 3,562 |
| Box Hill | 2,539 | 73% | 3,464 |
| Richmond | 2,072 | 27% | 7,576 |
| Footscray | 2,072 | 49% | 4,266 |
| South Yarra | 2,044 | 17% | 11,704 |
| Brunswick | 1,815 | 45% | 4,043 |
| Coburg | 1,643 | 149% | 1,105 |
| Preston | 1,274 | 49% | 2,576 |
| Ringwood | 1,211 | 117% | 1,037 |
| North Melbourne | 1,195 | 23% | 5,106 |
| Maribyrnong | 1,122 | 61% | 1,828 |
| Northcote | 912 | 36% | 2,506 |
| Fitzroy North | 902 | 43% | 2,109 |
| Moonee Ponds | 836 | 29% | 2,898 |
| Highett | 807 | 94% | 861 |
| Kensington | 803 | 54% | 1,499 |
| West Melbourne | 774 | 23% | 3,362 |
| St Kilda | 723 | 8% | 9,057 |
| Doncaster | 644 | 23% | 2,846 |
| Brunswick East | 618 | 18% | 3,366 |
| Flemington | 598 | 31% | 1,911 |
| Hampton East | 593 | 136% | 437 |
| Fitzroy | 593 | 19% | 3,098 |
| Clayton | 561 | 34% | 1,648 |
| Alphington | 552 | 103% | 535 |
| Sandringham | 540 | 44% | 1,220 |
Data as of 2026-07-07. Suburb-level indicators — confirm the specific parcel.
What the data shows
By raw volume the pipeline is overwhelmingly inner-city: Docklands, the City of Melbourne and Southbank alone account for most apartments under way. But the more telling number is supply relative to what’s already there — and that story has moved to the middle ring. In Coburg, Ringwood, Hampton East and Port Melbourne the committed pipeline would lift the apartment stock by more than the number of apartments standing today. For a buyer or investor, a lot of new stock in a small existing market is the classic setup for softer rents and slower capital growth while it’s absorbed.
It cuts both ways: heavy supply is also where you’ll find more choice and sharper prices. The point isn’t that a pipeline is “bad” — it’s that you should know it’s coming before you buy. Each suburb links through to its full Delora profile, where the development pipeline is broken down by project stage.
Frequently asked
Does a big apartment pipeline lower prices?
Not always, but a large amount of new supply relative to the existing stock tends to cap capital growth and soften rents while it is absorbed. It is one signal among several — demand, location and dwelling type matter too — but it is worth knowing before you buy an apartment or invest.
Which Melbourne suburbs have the most apartments being built?
By raw count Docklands leads with about 7,365 apartments under construction or firmly committed, followed by the City of Melbourne and Southbank. Relative to existing stock, middle-ring suburbs like Coburg, Ringwood and Port Melbourne stand out — their pipelines would more than double the apartments already there.
What counts as 'committed' in the pipeline?
Apartments recorded as Under Construction or Firm in the Victorian Government's Urban Development Program (UDP, mrs2025). This tracks major projects, so smaller infill developments are not included.