Push to turn Melbourne office buildings into residential apartments

The boss of one of the world’s largest property investors, Blackstone, is calling for Australian capital cities to turn vacant office buildings into residential apartments in a bid to ease the housing crisis.

President of the Victorian chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects, David Wagner, says utilising existing buildings means “we’re off to a head start”.

While plumbing and electrical work would be required to convert office spaces to housing, Mr Wagner says “the issue can be planning as much as anything” in Melbourne.

Press PLAY below to hear what would need to happen to facilitate the conversion of office buildings to housing