Victoria Introduces Fast-Track Rules for Townhouse and Low-Rise Developments

The new code aims to streamline approvals for duplexes, townhouses, and low-rise apartments to address the state’s housing crisis.

The Victorian government has unveiled the 'Townhouse and Low-Rise Code,' designed to expedite planning approvals for developments up to three storeys high.
The code includes requirements for setbacks, tree canopies, open space, sustainable design, and a mix of apartment sizes to ensure quality and livability.
Developments meeting the code will bypass lengthy approval processes, with residents unable to appeal projects that comply with the new rules.
The initiative is part of a broader plan to build 2.24 million new homes across Victoria by 2051, with a focus on increasing housing density in well-connected areas.
While the code aims to reduce planning backlogs, critics argue it won't address high construction costs, interest rates, and other barriers to development.