Can the Planning Process Pull Its' Weight to Get Medium Density Development Across the Line
The introduction of Amendment VC267 that will bring in new Townhouse and Low-Rise Code for medium density residential development is imminent. Revised standards will be applied to all planning schemes in Victoria. The objective is to aid the planning process in pulling its weight in the delivery of ambitious housing targets and distributing the development of medium density housing more evenly across local government areas.
With the average time for a planning permit stretching out to 145 days, the Townhouse and Low-Rise Code has been package-up with some revised provisions and a faster more certain permit process by implementing a “deemed to comply” approach. In a similar fashion to VicSmart, if a proposed development is in conformity with the planning standards, it is “deemed to comply” and will benefit from and expedited review. Although, at this time, there is no information available to indicate if a faster process means faster than the current average or faster than the prescribed 60 days.
The Townhouse and Low-Rise Code will have a mix of revised and existing standards. In a bold move and justified by the strength of current standards that protect liveability, sustainability and amenity, there will be no right of appeal for proposed developments that are deemed to comply.
These changes have the potential of unlocking new development sites, encouraging developers to blow the dust off of proposals that didn’t get the tick of approval in the past and to consider revising proposals weren’t quite stacking up. CS Town Planning will continue to advise clients as more details are made available.
#townplanning #planningpermit #mediumdensityhousing