Town Planning

We specialise in planning approvals for residential development ranging from single dwellings, to multi-storey apartments, and greenfield estate subdivision.

Industrial development, from multi-warehouse infill developments, to industrial subdivision, ensures a consistent supply of industrial land to the commercial sector. Our town planning services to this sector include experience in both brownfield and greenfield site, and the process of considering contamination in the planning process.

Planning permits are often required for commercial land uses as varied as medical centres, offices, restaurants, child-care centres, cafes, convenience stores, landscape supplies and similar. Our town planning staff have many years experience in understanding the approval requirements of commercial uses and can guide you through the approval process.

Rezoning land to enable a different land use is known as a Planning Scheme Amendment. These are typically reasonably complex and lengthy processes, involving a range of sub-consultants and both State Government and Local Government. We have provided town planning expertise to a large number of these projects, both residential, commercial and social, and have also provided project management throughout the rezoning process.

Our staff regularly appear before VCAT (planning permit process) and before Planning Panels Victoria or Standing Advisory Committee (planning scheme amendment process). We also have experience in building a strategy and a team of expert witnesses, where required, to provide the best chance of success in these forums.

Pre-purchase investigations, particularly when a specific use or development is desirable, can help inform decision making. We can provide a detailed assessment of existing land use controls, and how they are likely impact on a particular development or land use outcome.

For many years we have provided town planning services, both strategic and statutory, to Local Government planning teams and State Government departments. This has enabled those organisations to continue to provide efficient town planning services, and for our staff to continue to be exposed to government practices and processes.

We have provided town planning services to a number of organisations seeking approval both under the relevant Planning Scheme, and also under the Marine and Coastal Act 2018 (MACA) which typically applies to development and works on marine and coastal Crown land. The relationship between the two processes and understanding the needs of key stakeholders is critical to the success of these projects.

Both State Government and Local Government regularly engage with the community, and/or specific landowners, when preparing and implementing strategic planning projects directed at issues of land use. We have regularly been engaged to represent our clients in making town planning submissions to these processes. Often these projects are followed by Planning Scheme Amendments during which client representation may also be required.