Preston Market Precinct
The Preston Market Precinct takes in 5.1 hectares of privately-owned land generally bound by Murray Road in the north, Cramer Street to the south, the rear of the High Street shops to the east and St Georges Road to the west. The precinct includes the Preston Market and is next to Preston train station.
Next steps
On 3 April 2023, Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny announced that she will introduce new planning controls for the Preston Market Precinct.
The Minister has instructed the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) to prepare a planning scheme amendment to respond to the recommendations of the Standing Advisory Committee (SAC) and the VPA has made available the material associated with preparing this amendment to the Department.
The new controls are proposed to include a Heritage Overlay to provide clarity on which market features must be preserved in any development and ensure that a significant proportion of the existing market is retained.
A Development Plan Overlay will also be introduced, setting out the requirements that need to be met for development proposals.
This decision was informed by feedback from the local community, as well as advice from the independent standing advisory committee which found that the proposed removal of a substantial portion of the market’s fabric had not struck the right balance in the context of its historical, aesthetic, technical and social significance.
For more information, see:
- Victorian Planning Authority Projects Standing Advisory Committee Report (PDF)
- Preston Market Precinct Q&A – April 2023 (PDF)
The committee‘s recommendations included retention of a fresh food market, greater heritage protection, retention of open space and for surrounding streets to connect the precinct to the new station and High Street.
A planning scheme amendment will be introduced this year to respond to the issues raised in the committee’s recommendations. This includes height controls which will be prepared carefully to maintain community amenity and achieve best practice urban design outcomes.
The VPA’s work on this project is now complete and all the evidence and work prepared by the VPA has been provided to the DTP to use in its preparation of the amendment.