TOWN PLANNING 101 - #1 What is a Planning Permit?
This is the first in our Town Planning 101 series to help you understand the basics of Town Planning in Victoria for residential development. [4 min read]
Have you been told you need a Planning Permit but don’t know what this is or where to start? Skip the rabbit hole, we’re here to help you understand the planning process in Victoria.
What is a planning permit?
A planning permit is a legal document that outlines how you can develop and use your land in Victoria. It is a document issued by Council, which is supported by endorsed plans, together they specify what is allowed to be developed on the land subject to the conditions imposed.
In Victoria, the Planning & Environment Act 1987 and local Planning Scheme sets out the requirements for land use and development in Victoria and the process and timing for applying for a Permit. All land is covered by a local Planning Scheme with policies and provisions guiding how land can be used and developed. This is what your proposal for a planning permit is assessed against.
A Town Planner helps identify what provisions apply, provide preliminary advice to inform your concept designs, assess your plans, prepare your planning report and submit your application to your Local Councils Planning department and manage it through to approval. We deal with Council so you don’t have to!
How to find out if I need a planning permit?
A call to your local council or a highly experienced planner at Urbankind will determine if your proposal requires a planning permit. Identifying the key planning requirements that will influence the design of your project is critical in the early stages. Expert advice is key to a smoother and quicker pathway to approval, saving you time, money and emotional energy.
Why would I need a planning permit?
Your land is covered by two main planning mechanisms; the first is ‘a Zone’ and the second are ‘Overlays’. Zone and Overlays are the common planning controls that trigger the need for a planning permit for residential development.
Alternatively, your proposal may also be affected by what is called a Particular Provisions which put simply, are planning provisions for a range of particular uses and developments, including but not limited to:
how many dwellings you can have on your site
car parking requirements
developing private tennis courts
and access to main roads
All or some of these triggers may impact your concept, so it is important to be across these early in the design phase to mitigate design constraints and delays in the process.
Often sites are affected by a complex set of planning controls that require expert interpretation to enable considered judgements to be made about the preferred development on land and process for approval. We can help you decide when to comply or push the envelope.
We hope this this quick summary of planning permits helps you in the start of your development journey, and feel free to reach out to our team if you have any questions, we are are more than happy to help.
