New state-wide planning strategy - Plan for Victoria
The Victorian Government has released Plan for Victoria, the new state-wide planning strategy, available at Plan for Victoria (PDF).
It replaces Plan Melbourne and introduces a range of planning reforms such as:
- housing targets for each Local Government Area
- an expansion of the Activity Centre Program from 10 to 60 centres
- a state target for 30% canopy cover in urban areas and requirements for tree canopy cover in new developments
- a future reduction in car parking requirements in locations close to public transport.
It also flags future policy work will be developed in the areas of affordable housing programs, reduced car parking requirements in locations close to public transport and increasing industrial land.
Victorian Government Activity Centre Program
The Victorian Government has now completed planning for the Niddrie (Keilor Road) and North Essendon Activity Centres.
The changes have been implemented into the Moonee Valley Planning Scheme in the form of rezonings and and a new Built Form Overlay.
The final plan includes:
- 8 to 10 storey building heights on large strategic sites
- 6 to 8 storey building heights within the core of the activity centre
- A new Housing Choice and Transport Zone (HCTZ) applying to residential areas within a 10 minute walk of the core with a 3 storey height limit, or 4 storeys on larger sites over 1,000 square metres.
Victorian Government changes to residential codes and standards
The residential standards formerly known as ‘ResCode’ have been replaced.
The three new codes are:
The major changes are:
- The new Codes contain only numerical standards. There are no longer any descriptive or visual standards for Neighbourhood Character or Design Details.
- Where the Code is met, an application must be approved by Council.
- There are no appeal rights for objectors where a development is fully compliant with the relevant Code.
New standards have been introduced to improve liveability and sustainability, specifying minimums for tree canopy coverage, areas set aside for roof-top solar and standards for room depths, as well as requiring better air flow in new developments.
Find out more from the Department of Transport and Planning website.
Council submissions
Council has made the following submissions to Victorian Government reforms: