Town Planning Applications
Navigating town planning in Melbourne requires clear documentation, an understanding of local policy, and the ability to respond to council feedback effectively. At Dadirri Architects, we can prepare and manage town planning applications for residential and multi-residential projects across Melbourne and Victoria. Our town planning services cover everything from initial planning assessments through to planning permit approval, including responses to requests for further information and neighbour objections.
Whether you need a planning permit for a new home, extension, subdivision, or multi-dwelling development, our town planning applications service handles the process from start to finish.
What Is a Town Planning Application?
A town planning application is a formal submission to your local council seeking approval to use or develop land in a particular way. Town planning applications include architectural drawings, written reports, and supporting documentation that demonstrate how your proposal responds to the planning scheme. Most residential projects that involve new construction, significant alterations, subdivision, or a change of use will require a planning permit.
Town planning applications are assessed against the local planning scheme, which includes zoning controls, overlays, neighbourhood character policies, and state planning provisions. Council planners, and sometimes independent referral authorities, review town planning applications and may request additional information before making a decision on your planning permit.
Our Town Planning Process
Step 1Planning Assessment:
We review the planning scheme to confirm what permits are needed, identify key considerations, and advise on the likely approval pathway for your town planning applications.
Step 2Design Response:
We develop the design to respond to planning controls, neighbourhood character, and amenity requirements. Town planning considerations are embedded in the design, not applied as an afterthought.
Step 4Lodgement and Management:
We lodge the town planning applications, manage communication with council planners, and respond to any queries or RFIs promptly.
Step 3Documentation:
We prepare all drawings and reports to a standard that satisfies council requirements and minimises requests for further information on your town planning applications.
Step 5Neighbour Objections:
If objections are received, we prepare a response that addresses concerns while protecting the design intent.
Step 6Planning Permit Conditions.:
Once the planning permit is issued, we review conditions and advise on compliance during design development and documentation.
When You Need a Planning Permit
You will typically need a planning permit if you are building a new dwelling on a lot, constructing two or more dwellings on a single lot, altering or extending a building in a heritage overlay, subdividing land, changing the use of a building, or exceeding height or setback requirements under the relevant zone.
Not all projects require a planning permit. Some alterations and additions may be exempt under the planning scheme. Our town planning services include an initial assessment to confirm whether a planning permit is required and what type of town planning applications will need to be prepared.
Documents and Drawings Produced
For town planning applications, we produce a full set of architectural drawings including site plan with setback dimensions and site coverage calculations, floor plans, elevations, and cross-sections, shadow diagrams (typically for September and March equinox), landscape concept plan, 3D views or streetscape perspectives where beneficial, a written town planning report, and acquire any supplementary reports required by the planning scheme (such as traffic, arborist, or urban design reports coordinated with relevant consultants).
What’s Included
Our town planning applications include preparation of all required drawings (site plans, floor plans, elevations, sections, shadow diagrams, and landscape plans), a written town planning report addressing relevant policy and provisions, neighbourhood character analysis where required, management of the application lodgement and any pre-application meetings with council, responses to requests for further information, and representation at council delegate meetings or VCAT hearings if needed.
We work with town planning consultants where complex policy interpretation is required, and coordinate with other specialists such as traffic engineers, arborists, and landscape architects to support the town planning applications.
Typical Timelines
Timelines for town planning applications vary significantly depending on the council, the complexity of the project, and whether advertising and objections are involved. As a general guide, preparing town planning applications typically takes four to six weeks, council assessment of town planning applications typically takes eight to sixteen weeks (statutory timeframe is 60 days, but many councils take longer), and responses to requests for further information add two to four weeks per round.
If a VCAT hearing is required, this can add three to six months. We will provide a realistic timeline at the outset based on your specific council and project.
Frequently Asked Questions
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We assess your site and project against the planning scheme during an initial consultation. Many residential projects require a planning permit, but some works may be exempt.
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Yes. Our town planning services include managing applications for designs prepared by other architects or building designers.
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Neighbour objections are common and do not mean the application will be refused. We prepare a written response and can represent you at a council meeting or VCAT hearing.
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Town planning focuses on obtaining approval. Architectural services cover design, documentation, and delivery. We provide both, and we also work with independent town planning consultants where complex policy interpretation is required. This means town planning considerations inform the design from the outset.
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Yes. We can assist clients who have received an RFI, preparing amended drawings and written responses to address outstanding items on existing town planning applications.
Start Your Planning Application
If you have a project that needs a planning permit in Melbourne or Victoria, get in touch. We will assess your site, confirm the planning pathway, and manage the town planning applications from lodgement through to planning permit approval.