Amendment C376 (Sustainable Building Design Amendment) proposes changes to the planning rules to ensure future development achieves best practice in Environmentally Sustainable Design including increased energy efficiency and greening of buildings.

All land in the municipality will be subject to the new planning rules, however they will only apply to new planning applications – not existing buildings. Building owners and occupiers will not be required to make changes to existing buildings.

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Timeline

  • Timeline item 1 - complete

    Future Melbourne Committee meeting

    Council endorsed draft Amendment C376 to the Melbourne Planning Scheme and resolved to request authorisation from the Minister for Planning to prepare and exhibit the amendment.

    15 September 2020

  • Timeline item 2 - complete

    Authorisation received to proceed

    25 October 2022

  • Timeline item 3 - complete

    Community consultation

    2 March to 17 April 2023

  • Timeline item 4 - complete

    Submissions to Future Melbourne Committee

    On 21 May 2024, Council’s Future Melbourne Committee considered all submissions and referred them to an independent planning panel for review.

  • Timeline item 5 - complete

    Submissions to the independent panel or Ministerial Standing Advisory Committee

    The independent Planning Panel Hearing was held from 19 August to 23 August 2024.

  • Timeline item 6 - incomplete

    Future Melbourne Committee and Council consider the panel report

    At this stage of the process Council, having considered all submissions as well as the views of the independent panel, decides whether to ask the Minister for Planning to approve the amendment.

The following types of planning applications apply:

  • All developments requiring a planning permit will be subject to new planning policy about environmentally sustainable design.
  • Most new buildings will be subject to specific mandatory and preferred building design standards and requirements.
  • Most large alterations and additions which result in more than 1000 square metres additional gross floor area will be subject to mandatory and preferred building design standards and requirements.
  • Most developments in the Capital City Zone and Docklands Zone will be subject to sustainable transport requirements.

Find out about how the amendment may affect you.

By ensuring that performance standards for energy, waste, water, transport, urban heat and urban ecology are integrated into the design of buildings at the planning stage, our built environment will become more resilient, more efficient and a more livable place to be.

These new planning rules will reduce the emissions of new and redeveloped buildings in the City, which is an important step in achieving net zero emissions by 2040. In addition, the planning rules are designed to improve the liveability of the city as the climate gets hotter and more extreme. For example greening will help cool buildings during a heatwave, and using water wisely will help us cope better with drought events, both of which are becoming more common. Together, the new planning rules will also make buildings cheaper to operate.

To support the achievement of urban ecology outcomes in this amendment, we have developed and integrated the City of Melbourne's Green Factor tool which will optimise the design of green infrastructure and external landscaping for development proposals. For other categories of outcomes, we have linked to industry recognised frameworks and tools which will ensure the performance of our built environment achieves a nation-leading standard.

Amendment process

Public consultation on the amendment took place between 2 March and 17 April 2023.

Under the Planning and Environment Act 1987, Council can decide whether to make suggested changes to the amendment or request that the Minister for Planning appoints an independent panel to hear and review submissions.

Before making a final decision on the amendment, Council will consider the independent panel’s advice or (if applicable) advice from a Ministerial Standing Advisory Committee. If the amendment is adopted by Council then it will be submitted to the Minister for Planning for final approval.

For more information, see:

Make a submission

Making a submission

Amendment C376 was open for exhibition between 2 March and 17 April 2023. Submissions are now closed.

Information sessions

Register to attend an information session

We ran three online information sessions to assist you to learn more about the amendment:

  • Practitioner session: 11am-12pm, 16 March 2023
  • Practitioner session: 4pm-5pm, 22 March 2023
  • Resident groups and public: 6pm-7pm, 22 March 2023.

Ask a question

Ask a question

For any further questions about this amendment, please contact the planning policy team by:

Contact us

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