Is Campbell Arcade saved?

Is Campbell Arcade saved?

By Meg Hill

Rail Projects Victoria (RPV) is revising plans for a controversial underground pedestrian link that planned to demolish part of the heritage-listed Campbell Arcade.

Tenants in the arcade were told in 2017 that their leases would end in 2019 to facilitate the work which would also prohibit some long-term tenants from returning.

Heritage advocates were joined in opposing the plans by others who were concerned about parts of the plan that would turn the now publicly accessible space into a ticketed area.

Years of uncertainty over the plans and timeline of work have ensued since.

But in January a RPV spokesperson told CBD News the plans were being revised, although details could not yet be announced.

“We are working closely with Heritage Victoria, local business and community on revised plans for Campbell Arcade as part of the future underground pedestrian link between Flinders Street Station and the new Town Hall Station,” the spokesperson said.

“We expect to submit the plans for the arcade to Heritage Victoria mid-year, and they will take the arcade’s important heritage elements and plans for long-term tenants into account.”

Long-term tenants in the arcade have been told they can remain in the arcade until at least September 2021.

The underground connection will connect the future Town Hall Station to Flinders Street Station.

RPV has leased vacant spaces in the arcade to short-term and pop-up tenancies and is planning to run COVID-safe promotional programs for Campbell Arcade in the coming months.

CBD News understands this will include a second Flinders Quarter Art Walk planned for mid-2021.

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