Town Planning in Melbourne

Our vast experience and success with planning applications in Melbourne, ensures we can manage and streamline your bespoke design and build project.

Back in 2014, the Victorian Government in consultation with local councils across the state, reformed the Residential Zoning system. New Zones were created and defined, leaving vast areas of our suburbs effectively “Rezoned” by these new definitions. Neighbour Residential Zone – where development is quite restricted, General Residential – where limited development is allowed and Residential Growth Zone – where development is less restricted. These Zones were amended again in March 2017 with minor but important changes that effect maximum heights, site coverage and building setbacks from boundaries to name a few.

Added to this councils have applied “Schedules” to these zones which can have further implications to any proposed development by limiting maximum height, site coverage, boundary setbacks and permeability, to mention just the ones that affect our projects most often.

The councils also have applied “Planning Overlays” to these zones that can have further requirements that need to be met by any development, including a single dwelling development in many cases.  The most well know of these is the “Heritage Overlay” but there are others like the “Design Development Overlay” and “Vegetation Protection Overlay” that can also impact what can be built on a specific site. The main issue with these overlays is that almost regardless of how well you meet the overlay criteria, a Town Planning Application will need to be prepared and lodged with council. This is a lengthy process and usually involves advertising to neighbours and dealing with Council.

The idea of these Zones, Schedules and overlays is to protect the integrity and character of the suburbs and control the type of development in the specific areas to ensure it is appropriate according to the councils. In broad terms this makes sense, for example people love the suburb of Canterbury and the price of land there reflects that, but a major part of the appeal is the large established trees and gardens. If everyone in that area ripped out all the trees and gardens and built 4 storey Units with car parks out the front, the suburb would become less desirable and the character would be lost.

In most of our projects the planning controls have little or no impact, we are easily able to design beautiful homes that achieve all our clients wishes within the planning guidelines. However, in some instances the planning controls do have an impact and compromises need to be made or Town Planning Applications made to council for special permission.

Achieving the best possible outcome from a Town Planning Application is delicate process where experience, comprehensive knowledge of Town Planning Law and diplomacy are crucial.

Ravida has vast experience with planning applications in all their various forms and in many instances can handle the Town Planning Applications in house. Where things are more complicated, by a difficult neighbour or multiple Planning Controls we work collaboratively with the best town planning consultants in Melbourne. By using these town planning services and by collaborating with our clients in the approach to neighbours we ensure that the best planning outcome possible.

Connecting You with Helpful Town Planners in Melbourne

Ravida can connect you with town planning services for development projects in the highly desired eastern and south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne.