If you got here because you are researching the possibility of subdividing your property, you may also be interested in these articles:
- Subdividing land in Victoria: The 5 tests your property must pass
- Dual Occupancy Subdivision: A tale of two developments
Alternatively, if you are ready to start the subdivision/development process you may wish to consider our:
- Preliminary Development Assessment service.
Thanks for visiting and we hope you enjoy the following post!
In an earlier article, Subdividing land in Victoria: The 5 tests your property must pass, we described the “300 m2 per lot rule of thumb” that Town Planners generally like to use.
What if you wanted to fit more dwellings on your block than the “300 m2 per lot rule of thumb” would allow?
Is it possible to break this rule of thumb?
What is the minimum size of land to subdivide in Victoria?
In 2008, we were approached by a client who wished to subdivide and develop their 930 m2 block, located in Melbourne’s South East, into three double storey luxury townhouses.
With the project clearly within the “300 m2 per lot rule of thumb”, we immediately approached Council with a high level Land Use Plan, confident that the three townhouse proposal would gain Council support.
Not only did Council Town Planners like what we had proposed, they strongly suggested that we increase the development density to four dwellings on the site.
Why was the “300 m2 per lot rule of thumb” able to be broken?
The primary reason was that the site fell within the Local Council’s residential housing diversity policy that defined targeted areas for Council Town Planners to permit higher density developments.
The secondary reason was that the Land Use Plan was open ended enough that our Town Planner felt that they could significantly contribute to the direction of the development – and have their feedback incorporated.
As an aside: imagine for a moment that you’re the Town Planner involved. If someone, came to you after spending thousands of dollars and months of work on a beautiful, finished set of compliant plans for three townhouses and now requires a Planning Permit asap, would you have the heart to suggest to them that they could, in fact, repeat the entire process and fit four townhouses? Or would you simply grant their desire, approve the three and move on?
By using Land Use Plans, we were able to pass on the good news to the client at the start of the process before they had spent any money on a full set of Town Planning plans.
Conclusion
Generally speaking, Town Planners like to use the “300 m2 per lot rule of thumb” to determine the minimum size of land to subdivide in Victoria.
However depending on State & Local planning policy, a site’s acceptable development density can fall over or under this rule.
To find out, approach Council Town Planners as early as possible with your proposal.
Come well researched with high level Town Planning compliant plans but don’t wait until your plans are perfect and final.
Go in with an open mind and be prepared to collaborate with council on an outcome that is mutually beneficial.
You never know – you just might be surprised.
SUBDIVIDING LAND IN VICTORIA?
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
thank you
You’re very welcome!
Hope this information helps.
What sort of development have you got in mind?
Adam
All good … until you deal with the Knox council in Boronia, where for some reason don’t allow any subdivision below 500m2 per block. Why does the rule of thumb of 300m2 not apply there?
Hi Kenneth,
You make a very good point.
If only planning law could be reduced down to one rule – that would save a lot of heartache!
The reality is that the 300m2 rule of thumb is the ‘bare minimum’ starting point to not be fighting an uphill battle in the planner’s mind for subdividing land (obviously different when talking about apartments).
From this starting point, then further state and local and even immediate neighbourhood considerations need to be taken into account.
No doubt Knox council has specific local planning policies for your property that they consider important and must be factored in.
If you haven’t read it already, this article might shed further light on why the 300m2 rule applies (or not) to your property:
Subdividing Land in Victoria: The 5 tests your property must pass
Thanks for your question,
Adam
Thank you for giving so much information.
3 friends and I want to build 3 units – how much land do we need per lot?
Thank you
Hi there,
Without knowing anything about your land, its always difficult to say.
The reason is that every single property is different and has its own unique constraints that apply (even 2 ‘identical’ side by side properties can have different constraints that must be addressed).
If you are considering a development, may we suggest our Property Development Assessment service? Here we summarise all the unique constraints that apply to your site and also let you know the likelihood of obtaining a planning permit that achieves your goal (in this case, 3 units).
Thanks again for your comment – let me know if I can help further.
Adam