_Housing Reforms and Can Good Decisions Be Made Faster

Earlier this week the Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, announced a major shake-up to existing planning and housing reforms that are intended to “boost housing supply and affordability in Victoria”. 

The key strategies identified in Victoria’s Housing Statement 2024-2034 include the following.

  1. Good decisions, made faster.
  2. Cheaper housing, closer to where you work.
  3. Protecting renter rights.
  4. More social housing.
  5. A long-term housing plan.
  6. 425,600 new homes for regional Victoria. 

Of particular interest is point 1 above, whereby the Victorian Government is looking to streamline the planning permit application (PPA) process and significantly cut down the assessment period for a decision to be made. 

Along with the announcement made by the Premier, the Minister for Planning gazetted Planning Scheme Amendment VC242.  VC242 incorporates two particular provisions to facilitate ‘Significant Economic Development’ (clause 53.22) and ‘Significant Residential Development with Affordable Housing’ (clause 53.23) into the Planning Scheme with PPAs that meet the specified conditions to be assessed by the Minister for Planning.  Where the Minister for Planning will be acting as the responsible authority, assessment of PPAs timeframe is expected to be reduced from twelve plus months to four months. 

Additionally, Planning Scheme Amendment VC243 changes how some PPAs are to be assessed at Council level are expected to come into place to simplify the assessment process or remove the requirement for a planning permit.  For example, proposed single dwellings on lots greater than 300 square metres (unless affected by an overlay) will not require a planning permit for development while a proposed dwelling on a lot less than 300 square metres (unless affected by an overlay) will be assessed within ten days (similar to the existing VicSmart timeframe).  It is interesting that these changes are reminiscent of earlier planning provisions regarding the development of dwellings on lots larger than 300 square metres so the detail will be interesting to see the actual new provisions. 

As part of the changes proposed, an overhaul to the Planning and Environment Act 1987 is expected to outline the revised roles of the Department of Transport and Planning, Local Councils and the Victorian Planning Authority, to be able to enact the goals of the Housing Statement.  The detail of this proposal will be interesting to see. 

We will be keen to see over time not only the changes but how effective they are in delivering ‘good decisions, made faster’ and what impact this will have on future PPAs and housing provision.