Released in September 2023, Victoria’s Housing Statement pledged clear planning controls that would help deliver 60,000 homes around an initial 10 activity centres. And as of Friday 11 April 2025, Amendment GC252 marked the first round of these new planning controls. We spent a few moments with UPco Planner Brigette McKay to get up to speed.  

First up, Brigette – what are the new controls?

There are modified Activity Centre Zones (ACZ), a new Housing Choice and Transport Zone (HCTZ) and a new Built Form Overlay (BFO). Which ones apply will depend on the previous controls, or the ‘starting point’, of the land. Interestingly, the anticipated Precinct Zone (PRZ) hasn’t come to fruition yet, so we’ll keep our ear to the ground for that one.

Depending on the activity centre, changes may also be made by amending the existing controls that apply to the land – for example, built form changes to the Ringwood activity centre are implemented via changes to the existing ACZ schedule, as opposed to applying the BFO.

And where do the controls apply?

They apply to land within 10 initial metropolitan activity centres and their catchments.

For now, it’s Broadmeadows, Camberwell Junction, Chadstone, Epping, Frankston, Moorabbin, Niddrie, North Essendon, Preston and Ringwood.

Another planning scheme amendment will follow, encompassing the next round of 50 metropolitan activity centres – so that Victoria can reach its housing targets in these areas by 2051.  

Can you give us an example of what’s changed in one of the activity centres?

Well, Camberwell Junction has seen the application of the BFO, Schedule 1 (BFO1) and the Design and Development Overlay, Schedule 17 (DDO17). It is also partially rezoned with the application of the:

  • Residential Growth Zone, Schedule 1 (RGZ1)
  • Commercial 1 Zone (C1Z)
  • Housing Choice and Transport Zone, Schedule 1 (HCTZ1)
  • Housing Choice and Transport Zone, Schedule 2 (HCTZ2).

Is there anything else to support the desired outcomes of these controls?

Amendment GC252 inserts background documents into the relevant planning schemes that detail the development outcomes of each activity centre, including structure plans and built form guidelines. This will help keep development on track.

Any word about transitional provisions?

The new HCTZ and BFO controls apply to applications lodged on or after 11 April 2025. However, the changes to the ACZs don’t include transitional provisions. This means that any current ‘live’ application under an affected ACZ is subject to the amended controls.

If you have a current or prospective development site in these or any of the future activity centres, we’d be happy to walk you through the implications of Amendment GC252. Drop us a line at info@upco.com.au

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