Explaining Heritage Controls

• ​How will Amendment C426 affect me?

• A Heritage Overlay on your property will mean that, in most instances, you will need a planning permit from Council to subdivide the land, construct a building, carry out alterations or erect a sign.
  

  Council officers will need to consider the heritage significance of your property before making a decision on a planning permit application, which seeks to modify the appearance of your property.

  A planning permit is not required for repairs or routine maintenance that do not change the appearance of the heritage place or for internal alterations, unless the interior are deemed significant.

  The City of Melbourne has range of support materials available to people who live in, or work with, heritage places, including the Heritage Owner's Guide and the Heritage Design Guide.

• ​What is a Planning Scheme?

• A planning scheme is a legal document that sets out planning policies, zones, overlays and other rules affecting how land can be used and developed in the municipality. It sets out what we can and cannot do on different areas of land in the city; for example, whether the land can be used for housing or a shop or business, what the height of a building should be, and how much open space should be provided.
  

• ​What is a Planning Scheme Amendment?

• As our city grows and changes, planning controls may be changed or updated to reflect the new circumstances. A change to the planning scheme is known as an amendment.
  

  The process for an amendment is set out in the Planning and Environment Act 1987. The amendment process has a number of steps.

  For more information, see the planning scheme amendment process.

• ​What is the Heritage Overlay?

• The Heritage Overlay identifies places which are of heritage importance. The overlay seeks to conserve and enhance places of natural and cultural significance, and ensure that new development does not adversely affect the significance of the heritage place.
  

  Under the Heritage Overlay, a planning permit is required from Council to:

  • Demolish or remove a building (including part of a building)
  • Construct a building (including part of a building)
  • Externally alter a building
  • Construct or carry out works
  • Construct or display a sign
  • Externally paint an unpainted surface
  • Externally paint a building if the painting constitutes an advertisement.
  • A permit is not required for internal works unless the interiors are deemed significant.
• ​What are local heritage policies?

• The City of Melbourne’s heritage policies guide applicants and planners in preparing and assessing applications for planning permits under the Heritage Overlay. The policies encourage development that is in harmony with the existing character and appearance of heritage places. Different requirements apply depending on the heritage category which applies to a building.
  

• ​What is the Heritage Places Inventory?

• The Heritage Places Inventory is an Incorporated Document in the Melbourne Planning Scheme, it lists properties within the Heritage Overlay and identifies their heritage category. Properties are either Significant, Contributory or Non-contributory. Properties may also be part of a significant streetscape under this system.
  

Explaining the Heritage Review

• What is the South Yarra Heritage Review?

• The City of Melbourne’s current South Yarra heritage information for the study area is based on a study completed in 1985 that needs to be reviewed in line with current best practice.

  The review includes Aboriginal, shared, and post contact heritage in order to form a holistic understanding of South Yarra’s transformation over time, and the heritage significance of the resulting physical layout, places and culture.

  The current project uses best practice for heritage assessments and will review all places – currently protected and unprotected by the planning scheme –within a defined area of South Yarra.

  External consultants will make recommendations on:

  • changes to existing heritage places where required
  • new proposed heritage places that need protection
  • any new precincts.
• How will you use the information I provide?

• The feedback you provide will help to:

  • Bring to our attention any places that need to be investigated for heritage protection in the Melbourne Planning Scheme.
  • Add to our knowledge and understanding of existing heritage places and, potentially, add information to written documentation held on them.
  • Build our understanding of the places the community values and why.
• How can I stay up to date with the project?

• This page will be updated as the project progresses. To receive email updates, follow this page.