More housing choice in Melbourne’s greenfields 

The Premier and Minister for Planning have released a 10-year plan for Melbourne’s greenfields. In this plan, the Government reaffirmed its commitment to achieving its target of 30% of new homes delivered in greenfields areas. 

The plan includes a suite of initiatives to unlock capacity for more homes in areas with existing Precinct Structure Plans (PSPs), including a review into existing PSPs to be led by the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA). 

Pilot program to review existing PSPs 

The VPA will lead a pilot program to review and amend 10 existing PSPs that are not yet fully developed in Melbourne’s greenfields. This will be done in partnership with our colleagues across the Department of Transport and Planning, councils and industry. 

The aim is to find opportunities to increase the number and types of homes around existing or planned infrastructure (transport, schools and community facilities). This will deliver more homes and more housing choice, and will optimise planned investment in infrastructure and services.  It will also make an important contribution to help our growth area councils achieve the housing targets laid out in the new Plan for Victoria. 

Many of the PSPs in Melbourne’s growth areas were gazetted more than a decade ago. This review will bring these PSPs in line with contemporary policy. Locating more homes close to the central shops and services within our PSPs will encourage more viable and walkable suburban centres. As more homes are built in these new communities, there will be more people to support local shops and businesses, and the delivery of more bus routes and services. 

Next steps 

We are currently reviewing growth area PSPs that are less than 60% developed, to determine which precincts to include in this pilot program. In the coming months, we will launch the pilot program and begin reviewing 10 PSPs to meet updated housing targets. 

For more information about our pilot program, contact Brent McLean, Director – Metropolitan Melbourne at Brent.Mclean@vpa.vic.gov.au