Melbourne
Town Planning in Melbourne
Planning permits, VCAT representation, strategic advice and full-project coordination for property owners and developers across Greater Melbourne and Victoria.
- 98% planning approval success rate across Australia
- 70+ years of combined planning experience
- Hundreds of approvals managed across Victorian councils
- End-to-end support from due diligence to final approval
Melbourne's planning system runs on the Planning and Environment Act 1987, the Victoria Planning Provisions, and 31 metropolitan council planning schemes...
The rules look similar on paper. The way each council applies them isn’t. That’s where most projects get stuck.
We work with property owners, developers, architects and business operators on Victorian projects of every scale, from a single dwelling or commercial fitout through to multi-unit residential and large-format signage. Our job is to map the right approval pathway for your site, prepare a permit application the council can actually support, and push it through to decision.
When an urban planning project hits resistance, we represent clients at VCAT and in pre-hearing negotiation. When a project doesn’t need a permit at all, we’ll tell you that too. We don’t bill for work you don’t need.
Why Choose Us for Melbourne Projects
98% Approval Success Rate
Nearly all projects we lodge get approved. That's the product of careful pre-lodgement strategy, not a lucky run.
One team, end-to-end
You don't hand off between consultants. We manage the planning pathway from site assessment to final approval, including coordination with architects, traffic engineers, arborists, heritage consultants and surveyors where the council requires them.
70+ years of combined planning experience
Our urban planners have worked across residential, commercial, industrial, hospitality and retail projects in councils across Australia, including Victorian permit applications and VCAT appeals.
Honest reads, not over-promises
If your site can't support what you're trying to build, you'll hear it on the first call. We'd rather lose a brief than walk a client into a refusal.
Melbourne Town Planning Services
Here’s what we handle on Melbourne and Victorian projects, from feasibility through to VCAT.
Planning Permit Applications
Preparation and lodgement of planning permits under the relevant Victorian planning scheme. Includes site analysis, zoning and overlay assessment, ResCode (Clauses 54, 55 and 56) compliance for residential, neighbourhood character response, and the planning report that argues why the permit should be granted.
Due Diligence and Feasibility
Pre-purchase or pre-design assessment of zones, overlays, heritage controls, bushfire and flood overlays, and the development potential of your site. Includes a clear written read on whether your concept is permittable, partially permittable, or going to require an amendment.
Strategic Planning Advice
Written planning advice for clients who need a defensible position before they invest, build, or proceed. Useful for buyers, developers comparing sites, and architects briefing clients.
VCAT Representation
Appeals to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal on permit refusals, conditions disputes, or objector-led reviews. We brief and run the case, coordinate expert evidence, and represent clients at hearing.
Permit Amendments and Extensions of Time
Section 72 amendments to existing planning permits, secondary consent matters, and extensions of time when the permit clock is running out.
Signage and Advertising Permits
Planning permits for business identification, promotion, and major signage under Clause 52.05 of the Victorian planning provisions. Strong track record across retail, hospitality and fitness industry rollouts.
Change of Use Applications
Permits for new business uses including food premises, places of assembly, medical centres, education, and licensed venues. We handle the planning side; you focus on the operation.
Council Negotiation and Dispute Resolution
Pre-lodgement meetings, response to council requests for further information, objector negotiation, and pre-VCAT mediation.
Not sure which service you need?
Urban planning can be complex—but we’re here to make it simple. Get in touch and we’ll help you figure out the right next step for your project.
How We Work In Melbourne
We don’t just submit applications. We manage the journey from early planning advice through to final compliance and beyond. Here’s how it runs for Melbourne projects.
Site
Assessment
We review your property's zone, overlays and the relevant clauses of the Victorian planning scheme to confirm what's possible, what's restricted, and what's worth pursuing.
Planning
Advice
With the controls mapped, we set the approval strategy and flag the issues that could slow your project before they cost time or money.
Application
Preparation
We prepare the planning report, coordinate the supporting documents, and lodge with the relevant Victorian council. Then we keep it moving.
Certification &
Coordination
Once the planning permit is granted, we coordinate the handover into the building permit stage and make sure the conditions on your permit don't become a problem on site.
Post-Approval
Support
Projects change. Designs evolve. Conditions need testing. We stay on the project after the permit is in your hands.
Who Our Town Planning Is For
- Property owners planning a dwelling, dual occupancy, extension or change of use
- Developers pursuing multi-unit residential, mixed use, or commercial projects
- Business operators opening, expanding, or fitting out premises in Melbourne (hospitality, retail, fitness, medical, education)
- Architects and designers who want a planning consultant to handle the council pathway while they focus on the design
- Buyers doing pre-purchase planning due diligence on a Victorian site
If you’re at the “is this even worth pursuing?” stage, that’s exactly when an urban planning consultation pays off. Start before the site is bought, not after.
Proven Results That Speak for Themselves
With hundreds of successful projects across Australia, our numbers say it all.
Melbourne Town Planning FAQs
Do you have an office in Melbourne?
Our head office is in East Gosford, NSW. We service Victorian projects nationally, with site visits, council meetings and VCAT appearances in Melbourne as each project requires. Most clients find the day-to-day work runs faster by phone, email, and video than it would in-person.
How long does a planning permit take in Melbourne?
The statutory decision timeframe under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 is 60 days from lodgement, but the real timeline depends on the council, whether the application is advertised, and whether objections are received. Straightforward applications can be decided in two to four months. Complex or contested applications can run six months or longer. We’ll give you a realistic timeframe estimate before you commit.
What does a planning permit cost in Victoria?
Council application fees are set by the state government and scale with the cost of development, ranging from a few hundred dollars for small works to several thousand for major projects. That’s the council fee only. Our planning consultancy fee is quoted separately and depends on the project’s complexity. You’ll get a fixed-scope quote before any work starts.
Do I need a planning permit for my project?
It depends on your property’s zone, overlays, the use you’re proposing, and the works you want to do. Some projects don’t need a permit at all. Others need a permit for use, works, or both. The fastest way to find out is to send us the address and a short description of the project. We’ll tell you if a permit is needed before you spend money preparing one.
Can you represent us at VCAT?
Yes. We prepare and run VCAT appeals on planning permit refusals, conditions disputes, and reviews initiated by objectors. We coordinate expert evidence, prepare the case, and represent clients at hearing.
We've already had a permit refused. Can you help?
Often, yes. We’ll review the refusal, the council’s reasons, and the application itself, then advise on whether the project is worth appealing to VCAT, re-lodging with changes, or rethinking. We don’t push clients into appeals that aren’t winnable.
Do you only work on big developments?
No. We work on single-dwelling permits, dual occupancies, signage applications, small commercial fitouts and change-of-use applications alongside larger developments. If a permit needs lodging, we can help.
How do we get started?
Send us the property address and a short brief on what you’re trying to do. We’ll come back to you with an initial read, an indication of fees, and the next step.