Experienced Town Planning Consultants Across Melbourne and Victoria
Established in July 2013, Universal Planning is a respected Melbourne-based consultancy providing comprehensive development and town planning services to property owners, developers, investors and government organisations throughout Victoria.
Practical Planning Experience
Universal Planning is led by founder and Director Stephen O’Brien, a qualified town planner with more than 39 years of experience in urban and regional planning and development advisory roles across Australia, Asia and the Middle East.
Stephen completed a Bachelor of Regional and Town Planning in 1986 and a Bachelor of Economics at the University of Queensland in 1995. His combined understanding of planning and property economics has supported his work on residential, commercial, subdivision and master-planned development projects.
Comprehensive Town Planning Services
We assist clients with the permits, assessments and professional representation required for a wide variety of property developments. Every matter is carefully reviewed to identify relevant evidence, planning requirements, potential constraints and practical ways to move the project forward.
Planning Permits
We prepare and manage planning permit applications for residential, commercial and industrial developments across Melbourne and regional Victoria. Our knowledge of planning schemes and environmental legislation helps us identify issues and develop achievable planning solutions.
Building Permits
Universal Planning can coordinate the building permit process by engaging structural and civil engineers, geotechnical and foundation consultants, home energy rating experts and architects. We also work with accredited Melbourne building surveyors who assess plans against the Building Act 1993, Building Regulations 2018 and National Construction Code.
Subdivision Permits
Since its establishment, Universal Planning has contributed more than 840 residential lots and 1,430 strata title lots to the Victorian property market. We work with experienced surveying firms and provide the planning assessments required for council approval, including Clause 56 and relevant local planning policy appraisals.
Site Potential Appraisals
Our site potential appraisals provide research and planning analysis before a property purchase. We assess whether the land may suit the intended objectives, identify possible constraints and highlight opportunities that could add value to the site.
VCAT Representation
Universal Planning represents councils, private clients and publicly listed organisations in VCAT appeals and mediations. We have worked across diverse project types, appeared before the Building Appeals Board and regularly provided expert evidence at VCAT and Planning Panels Victoria.
Liquor Licence Planning
We assist applicants with the planning requirements connected to liquor licences and BYO permits. Our work can include an assessment against Clause 52.27, a Site Analysis Plan, a Noise and Amenity Action Plan and, where necessary, a detailed Cumulative Impact Assessment.
A Collaborative Planning Approach
Our multidisciplinary team includes award-winning architects, surveyors, arborists, landscape designers and traffic engineers. Bringing the relevant professionals together allows potential issues to be recognised and addressed while creating considered development and design solutions.
We thoroughly examine the available evidence before determining how challenging planning matters may be resolved. This approach helps us develop coordinated projects that respond to the objectives of our clients and the requirements of approval authorities.
Experienced Guidance From Stephen O’Brien
Stephen’s areas of expertise include land-use planning, highest and best-use planning, planning scheme amendments and VCAT representation. Since establishing Universal Planning, he has prepared more than 4,000 town planning reports relating to residential and commercial developments, subdivision applications, planning advice and planning scheme amendments.
His professional experience includes government, council, planning, property and development positions in Australia and overseas. These roles have involved master-planned communities in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam, local government planning services, ministerial policy advice, property consultancy and project work for Telstra.
Fully Insured Consultancy
Universal Planning holds professional indemnity insurance with Chubb with an indemnity limit of $5 million. The practice also holds $20 million in public liability insurance with QBE Insurance Ltd.
Stephen O’Brien is a past member of the Planning Institute of Australia, the national organisation representing the planning profession.
Understanding Victorian Planning
Our Melbourne-based consultancy has extensive experience guiding clients through Victorian town planning and environmental controls. We understand the complexities of the Victorian planning system and the requirements involved in pursuing a successful planning outcome.
What Our Clients Say
Planning schemes regulate the use and development of land. One way they do this is by requiring that certain types of use or development can only be carried out if a planning permit is granted.
A planning permit is a legal document that allows a certain use or development to proceed on a specified parcel of land. The benefit of the permit generally attaches to the land for which it has been granted although a permit is sometimes made specific to a nominated owner or operator. A permit is always subject to a time limit and will expire under specified circumstances. The responsible authority will impose conditions when granting a permit and endorsed plans will also usually form part of the permit. The proposal must satisfy all of the conditions on a planning permit.
The planning permit is the preferred form of development approval in the Victorian planning system. Planning schemes allow a wide range of uses to be considered in each zone through the permit process.
A permit is not always required to use or develop land.
Planning permit timeframes vary based on the proposal, the planning controls and the assessment process.
Most planning permits take at least three months to be issued by a council. They commonly take four to six months. The average time it takes a council to make a decision is included in the Planning Permit Activity Reporting System (PPARS) by the State government.
In 2025, the average time to decision across all councils is approximately 155 calendar days for regular applications, and 29 days for a VicSmart planning application.
Planning permits can be tediously simple, or onerously detailed.
Some planning applications require a great deal of supporting information, others relatively little. Some planning applications require referrals to other government departments, some require advertising and some are eligible for fast-tracking via VicSmart or council specific pathways.
Absolutely. We appear at VCAT and Planning Panels Victoria representing private and public sector clients with insight, discipline, and assurance. With substantial appearances under our belt, we are acknowledged industry experts in advocacy matters.
Yes definitely. Assessing sites before purchase is a crucial part of the due diligence process for property, land, or business acquisitions. This process, often called a feasibility study, is essential to avoid purchasing a “lemon”—a site that cannot be developed as intended or that produces a financial loss.
What Our Clients Say
Discuss Your Town Planning Requirements
Contact Universal Planning to discuss your town planning, development, permit or property requirements.