Policies and initiatives

Future Homes

Learn about the Future Homes project, the designs, and specific information for builders and developers

Decriminalisation of sex work in Victoria

Learn about the role of planning schemes to support decriminalising sex work

Built Environment Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan 2022-2026

Regional Planning Hub

Learn about how we are helping rural and regional councils.

Government Land Planning Service

The Government Land Service changes planning provisions and corrects planning scheme anomalies for Victorian government land

Reconstruction after storm or flood

Streamlined approvals for reconstruction after storms and floods.

University of Melbourne, Fishermans Bend Campus

Learn about amendment C371 that proposes to facilitate the use and development of land for a new campus for the University of Melbourne at 241 Salmon Street, Port Melbourne

Better Apartments

The Better Apartments Design Standards have been introduced to improve the liveability and sustainability of apartments in Victoria

Central City Built Form Review

Planning controls to guide the future development of Melbourne's central city

Urban Design Guidelines for Victoria

The Urban Design Guidelines for Victoria provide advice on the design of public spaces, on building design and the layout of our cities and towns

Local heritage protection

Local councils are responsible for decisions about local heritage in Victoria

Unlocking enterprise in a changing economy

Enterprise Precincts respond to changes in the economy and evolving ways of working

Melbourne industrial and commercial land use plan

Planning for industrial and commercial land to meet future needs

Distinctive areas and landscapes

Amendments to the Planning and Environment Act were introduced in 2018 to safeguard the state's distinctive areas and landscapes

Great Ocean Road Region Strategy

The Great Ocean Road Region Strategy plans for the region's future land use and transport demands

Latrobe Valley Regional Rehabilitation Strategy: Regional Land Use Study

The Latrobe Valley Regional Rehabilitation Strategy: Regional Land Use Study aims to guide the future land uses of rehabilitated mines and surrounding areas

Regional parks

The government is considering planning scheme changes to create three new regional parks and a sports precinct

Waterways Planning

Explore Victoria’s waterways and find out what we’re doing to protect them from inappropriate development, safeguard public access and achieve greater biodiversity

Planning for environment protection

Learn how the planning system supports environment protection.

Planning for bushfire protection

Learn how the planning and building systems respond to bushfire

South West Landscape Assessment Study

Landscape assessment studies help to ensure that Victoria's landscapes are there for future generations to enjoy.

The coast and planning in Victoria

Planning for the protection and enhancement of Victoria's coastal areas

Major hazard facilities

Planning considerations for areas around major hazard facilities

Engaging stakeholders in settlement planning

Guide to effective stakeholder engagement when planning settlements in areas exposed to natural hazards and climate change risk

Developing near dams

Planning considerations for development abutting or near existing dams

Planning for affordable housing

The Victorian Government is committed to increasing the supply of affordable housing

Housing strategy planning initiatives

The initiatives and reforms to the planning system to be introduced as part of the Victorian Government's housing strategy

Residential aged care facilities

The Victorian Government has streamlined the planning assessment process for residential aged care facilities

Open space planning

The importance of open space in the community and how it is planned

Infrastructure contributions

Infrastructure Contributions fund the provision of essential infrastructure to support new or growing communities

Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution Fund

Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC), a fund for essential infrastructure development in Melbourne’s growth areas of Cardinia, Casey, Hume, Melton, Mitchell, Whittlesea and Wyndham.

Guidelines for greyhound facilities across Victoria

There are changes to the way that greyhound keeping and training facilities are managed in Victoria's planning system

Planning for sustainable animal industries

The Victorian Government's planning policy framework for animal industries in Victoria

Green wedges

Green wedges are the non-urban areas of metropolitan Melbourne that lie outside the Urban Growth Boundary

Planning for Melbourne's green wedges and agricultural land

Learn how the Victorian Government is strengthening planning for Melbourne’s green wedges and agricultural land to ensure these areas are protected and supported for future generations.

Protecting residential rooftop solar systems

Current planning protections against overshadowing for your rooftop solar system

Extractive Resources

Learn about how we are planning for future management of Victoria’s extractive resources

Strategic Extractive Resource Areas pilot project

Safeguarding Victoria’s resources for future growth

Guidelines for golf course redevelopment

Learn about the new guidelines on preparing a proposal to redevelop a golf course

Activity centres

The planning of a network of vibrant community hubs known as activity centres

Better Apartments

The Better Apartments Design Standards have been introduced to improve the liveability and sustainability of apartments in Victoria

Cooling and Greening Melbourne

Green infrastructure to create more liveable and climate-adapted communities

Fishermans Bend

Australia's largest urban renewal project is happening in Melbourne

Green wedges

Green wedges are the non-urban areas of metropolitan Melbourne that lie outside the Urban Growth Boundary

Melbourne’s Future Planning Framework

Draft long-term strategic plans to guide land use, infrastructure, transport and development for the next 30 years in the six Melbourne metropolitan regions

Melbourne's strategic planning history

Melbourne was founded in 1835 and was officially declared a city by Queen Victoria in 1847. Read about Melbourne's strategic planning history.

Open Space for Everyone

Open Space for everyone has been developed to guide all levels of government in the planning, management and delivery of a quality open space network

Plan Melbourne 2017 - 2050

Plan Melbourne is the metropolitan planning strategy that defines the future shape of Melbourne over the next 35 years

Plan Melbourne Report on Progress 2020

The second yearly review of the current Five-Year Implementation Plan

Reformed planning zones for Victoria

Victoria's planning zones have been reviewed and reformed

Regional growth plans

Regional Growth Plans provide a broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria

Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution Fund

Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC), a fund for essential infrastructure development in Melbourne’s growth areas of Cardinia, Casey, Hume, Melton, Mitchell, Whittlesea and Wyndham.

Airports and planning

The planning system's role in protecting our airports, their operations and the communities around them