Whether you are considering a second dwelling, subdivision, commercial use or the purchase of development land, it pays to understand the planning position early. A town planner in Melbourne can help identify what the planning scheme allows, where the difficulties may arise and what steps are needed before you spend money on drawings or reports. These are some of the questions we regularly hear at Universal Planning.
What Does a Town Planner in Melbourne Do?
A town planner examines the planning controls affecting a property, including its zone, overlays and relevant state and local policies. The task is not simply to establish whether a permit is required. It is also to assess whether the proposal has reasonable planning prospects and how it could be designed to respond to the applicable controls.
Where a permit is needed, we prepare planning reports and submissions, coordinate supporting material, deal with council planners and respond to requests for further information. Depending on the project, this may involve architects, land surveyors, arborists, landscape architects, traffic engineers or other specialists.
When Should You Speak to a Town Planner?
Ideally, before purchasing a development site or commissioning detailed plans. A preliminary planning opinion can identify constraints that are easy to miss, such as a restrictive overlay, neighbourhood character requirements, access difficulties or vegetation controls.
We also assist people who have already received council objections, a request for further information, a refusal or permit conditions they consider unreasonable. A sound strategy at the beginning can avoid unnecessary expense later.
What Experience Should Your Town Planner Have?
Planning requires both an understanding of legislation and sound professional judgement. The same proposal can raise different issues in different municipalities, and the detail of the site often determines what is achievable.
Universal Planning was established in 2013 by Stephen O’Brien. Stephen has 40 years of town planning experience, internationally and in Victoria, across local government planning practice, private consultancy and major development projects.
Stephen is personally involved in assessing planning matters and believes the best results come from bringing the right professionals together at the right stage. Over the course of his career, he has worked across residential, commercial, industrial and subdivision projects throughout Victoria. Since establishing Universal Planning, he has assisted property owners, developers and businesses with a wide range of planning matters.
Can a Town Planner Help With Subdivision?
Yes. Subdivision is one of our core areas of work, from two-lot proposals to complex residential subdivisions. Our experience includes applications affected by Bushfire Management Overlays, Vegetation Protection Overlays, Erosion Management Overlays and other environmental or landscape controls. Such proposals can require detailed technical assessments, consideration of competing planning policies, and responses to objections raised during public notification.
We work with licensed land surveyors, traffic engineers, arborists, bushfire consultants and other specialists as required. Stephen helps coordinate the material and prepares planning submissions addressing the central issues, including those raised by council and objectors.
Clause 56 of the Victoria Planning Provisions may be relevant to residential subdivision, but the particular requirements depend on the zone, the subdivision and other circumstances. It is important to establish the applicable provisions rather than assume every subdivision is assessed in the same way.
Does Universal Planning Work Outside Melbourne?
Yes. Universal Planning assists clients across metropolitan Melbourne, not just the municipality where our office is based, and with subdivision and development planning matters throughout regional Victoria.
How Do You Get Started?
Considering a subdivision, second dwelling or development proposal? Whether your property is subject to straightforward controls or complex environmental overlays, contact Stephen O’Brien for a preliminary planning opinion and a practical assessment of the issues. Call Universal Planning on 0448 147 238 or use our website contact page. You can also read our Manningham town planning guide or our guide to pre-purchase planning assessments and subdivision feasibility.
