Plans for inner Melbourne

How your feedback has helped shape our planning

Melbourne City Council and Yarra City Council have consulted with the community on draft planning controls for key locations in the Inner Melbourne Train and Tram Zone. In response to community feedback, we’re implementing planning controls in the City of Yarra, and considering new controls in the City of Melbourne.

In the City of Melbourne, the proposed planning controls support a mixed-use, mid-rise precinct that provides new homes, better connections and new open spaces for North Melbourne and Kensington.

In the City of Yarra, now approved planning controls support more homes and jobs while protecting what makes them great:

• in Fitzroy and Collingwood, we’re protecting views of important landmarks such as the Royal Exhibition Building, St Luke’s Church and St Patrick’s Cathedral, and the heritage streetscape
• along Bridge Road and Victoria Street, we’re protecting heritage streetscapes, sunny streets, and views of local landmarks such as the Richmond Town Hall and the Pelaco Sign
• along Heidelberg Road, we’re encouraging more homes close to parks and green spaces, while protecting the natural landscape and views to and from Birrarung (Yarra River).

It also highlights key transport connections and open spaces.

Faster decisions on priority projects

Introducing new planning controls in the Inner Melbourne Train and Tram Zone is just one way we propose to make it easier for more homes to be approved in great places to live.

As of July 2026, State led planning pathways and the Big Housing Build have resulted in 16 approvals in the City of Melbourne and City of Yarra.

This has resulted in 5,985 dwellings approved to be built in inner Melbourne, specifically:

• 4,183 dwellings in the City of Melbourne
• 1,802 dwellings in the City of Yarra.

With over $2 billion in total development costs, these projects provide significant economic contributions, injecting investment in the Victorian economy and creating homes for people.

You can also read more about the pathways on the Development Facilitation Program.

Read more about the Big Housing Build.

The proposed plan requires developers to pay contributions of:

This could be used to invest in specific improvements to infrastructure and facilities for the local community, such as transport, open space, and community facilities including:

The specific projects are identified in the proposed Macaulay Urban Renewal Precinct Development Contributions Plan.

A different approach will apply in the City of Yarra recognising new planning controls will apply in established suburbs such as Fitzroy, Collingwood, Richmond and Alphington.

If approved, a standard infrastructure contributions plan will require developers to pay a standardised contribution of $11,350 for each new home, or equivalent charge for an office or similar building they deliver, to be used to invest in improvements to infrastructure and facilities for the local community.