The Victorian Government has announced new measures to make it easier, faster, and cheaper to subdivide land and build more homes, aiming to address housing availability in the state.
Options on the table include:
- Reducing subdivision approval time from 60 days to 10 days
- Criteria-based planning permit exemptions
- Potentially eliminating the requirement for a planning permit altogether
Emily Kulich/MPC
Speaking at the Melbourne Press Club, Premier Jacinta Allan revealed that the Government will immediately begin an implementation review to streamline the current subdivision process, which often discourages home building due to delays.
“This just makes sense: if you’ve got land you don’t need – we’ll make it easier for you to subdivide it and sell it, putting money back in your pocket and giving another Victorian the chance to buy their own home,”
said Premier Allan.
The review will focus on how to best streamline planning and building systems, making it more straightforward for property owners to add a second home, build two new homes, or split their blocks into two lots.
“By unlocking land in people’s backyards – we’ll unlock even more new homes for young families in our established suburbs,”
Premier Allan added.
Clear limits will still be in place for important community factors, such as tree preservation, parking, and areas with flood or heritage overlays.
The Department of Transport and Planning will be involved in the review, exploring how to fast-track approvals while ensuring high-quality standards for homes are maintained. The government plans to consult with industry stakeholders and aims to implement reforms by April of next year.
Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny emphasised the impact on young families, stating,
“This will help more young Victorians get the opportunity to live in the communities they grew up, close to the people they love.”
The initiative builds on the Labor Government’s regulatory changes in late 2023, which allowed homeowners to construct small secondary residences, such as granny flats, without the need for a planning permit.
The policy is expected to make it easier for more Victorians to find homes in established areas, close to transport, jobs, schools, and services, while also assisting older homeowners who wish to downsize or sell land to young families.
The announcement is part of a broader effort by the Victorian government to boost housing, which includes delivering new social and affordable homes and the Suburban Rail Loop project, featuring six housing precincts.
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