Residential Corridors Built Form Study

Whitehorse City Council, has prepared Built Form Guidelines for land in the Residential Growth Zone (RGZ) along key road corridors in the municipality.

The study recommends built form controls to better guide development outcomes. The controls relate to building setbacks, architecture and height, building separation, overshadowing, landscaping and pedestrian and vehicle access.

The Study Area ( PDF 183.92KB)focuses primarily on the major east-west tram and road corridors, where there is an interface between the RGZ and the General Residential Zone (GRZ) or Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ) to the rear or side. Specifically, this project is looking at Burwood Highway, generally between Elgar Road, Burwood and Hanover Road, Vermont South and Whitehorse Road in Mont Albert, Laburnum and Nunawading.

Community Consultation on the Study

In March / April 2018, Council asked the community about development in the study area, through a community survey promoted by Study Bulletin #1 ( PDF 994.04KB). The Bulletin outlined the project and included a link to the online survey. There was an excellent response to the survey, with almost 400 responses. Download a copy of the summary of the community feedback ( PDF 4.33MB)..

In July / August 2018, Council sought feedback on draft guidelines that had been prepared to help design new development along the key road corridors. Study Bulletin #2 ( PDF 377.83KB) outlined the draft guidelines. A Feedback form ( PDF 373.55KB) was available for the community to make comment and the information sessions used the following display material: Consultation Boards ( PDF 5.59MB)

Thank you to those who provided feedback and participated in the community consultation.

At its meeting on 29 January 2019 ( PDF 1.89MB) Council resolved as follows:

That Council:

Adopt the Draft Residential Corridors Built Form Study.
Seek authorisation from the Minister for Planning under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Section 8a) to prepare and exhibit an amendment to the Whitehorse Planning Scheme to implement the recommendations of the Study.
Advise all submitters to the Residential Corridors Built Form Study consultation of this resolution.

The Study can be downloaded below:

Implementation of the Study through Amendment C220whse

Following Council’s resolution to seek Authorisation, a request for authorisation along with the proposed planning controls via Amendment C220whse was submitted to the Minister for Planning in October 2019. The authorisation issued by the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning (DELWP) in February 2021 included a number of conditions seeking changes to the proposed Design and Development Overlay – Schedule 11 (DDO11 - the key planning control proposed).

A revised DDO11 complying with most of the conditions requested by DELWP was endorsed by Council at its meeting on 20 September 2021. The revised DDO11 and the amendment documents were submitted to DELWP for authorisation under a new amendment number C239whse. In December 2021, DELWP refused to issue authorisation for Amendment C239 as the revised DDO11 did not address all the requested conditions for the initial amendment C220whse.

Following a number of discussions with DELWP, a further revised DDO11 addressing all the conditions of authorisation sought by DELWP was endorsed by Council at its meeting on 8 August 2022. The Department is satisfied with the revised DDO11, and agreed for Council to undertake public exhibition on the revised DDO11 under the initial Amendment C220whse.

The amendment C220whse and supporting documents are being placed on Public Exhibition from 29 September 2022. View the amendment documents and information on how to send a submission.

Any person who may be affected by the Amendment may make a submission to Council by Monday 31 October 2022.

For further information, contact the Strategic Planning Unit on 9262 6303 or email customer.service@whitehorse.vic.gov.au

Privacy Statement

Any personal information collected will be used solely by Council for the primary purpose of conducting the Amendment C220whse. The intended recipients of the information are Council’s Strategic Planning officers and their consultants. Council may disclose information to organisations authorised to collect it.

Individuals have a right to seek access to their personal information and make corrections by contacting the Planning and Building Department on 9262 6303. You may also view Council’s Privacy Policy or obtain a copy from any of Whitehorse City Council Offices.

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