Amendment overview

Amendment C385 (previously Amendment C309) was approved by the Minister for Planning and gazetted on 10 May 2022. The approved Amendment now forms part of the Melbourne Planning Scheme.

Amendment C385 implements the built form and land use directions of the West Melbourne Structure Plan 2018 by introducing new planning provisions into the Planning Scheme to guide future land use and built form in the area.

Rezoning some areas to a specifically crafted Special Use Zone will help support a genuine mix of uses in West Melbourne. Minimum employment floorspace requirements are included in the Special Use Zone to support a greater mix of commercial uses in West Melbourne. Commercial floorspace requirements will help to deliver the projected 10,000 jobs in West Melbourne by 2036.

Spencer Street will become the local high street of West Melbourne with shops, cafés and restaurants. The Special Use Zone will support the delivery of the high street. Active uses at street level will be encouraged.

A six per cent affordable housing target will help deliver around 200 affordable dwellings in West Melbourne.

New parking controls will encourage sustainable transport and more efficient use of unused parking spaces in West Melbourne.

West Melbourne Structure Plan

West Melbourne is a long-established area with a strong community, diverse mix of housing, warehouses and businesses, and a rich cultural and architectural heritage. The new Structure Plan guides the development of future growth in West Melbourne.

The plan outlines:

  • tailored planning controls to protect character and heritage buildings
  • creation of a new high street at Spencer Street
  • unlocking 10,000m2 of new open space

For further information, visit West Melbourne Structure Plan.

Panel hearing

Panel hearing and report:

Evidence for Council:

Part A Submission of Council:

West Melbourne Precincts

Precincts overview

An overview of the density and built form, and activities, uses and infrastructure in each West Melbourne Precinct.

Density and built form

New development in Adderley will be respectful of the existing built form and the heritage overlay that applies to a large part of the area. Building heights of between two and four storeys will create a mid-rise precinct that responds to adjacent low-scale heritage buildings.

Activities, uses and infrastructure

Adderley will have a mix of uses including cafes, restaurants with small art spaces, and offices scattered throughout. This will be achieved through the rezoning of land from mixed use zone to special use zone, and minimum requirements for employment floorspace. A mix of uses will be included older buildings and new buildings.

Density and built form

Flagstaff will continue to evolve as a central city fringe precinct with a mix of tower and podium development with a range of other building typologies. The tallest buildings will be around 16 storeys, with smaller sites and mid-block sites accommodating a lower built form.

Activities, uses and infrastructure

Flagstaff will have a mix of uses including residential, businesses, institutions, schools, and higher education colleges, as well as community facilities. Rezoning the area from mixed use zone to special use zone, and minimum requirements for employment floor space, will ensure the area continues to create local employment opportunities.

Density and built form

Rows of workers’ cottages, Victorian terraces, and Federation homes provide uniformity to the residential streets, and intact historic shopfronts and awnings line the shopping strips. Landmark buildings such as St Mary’s Cathedral occasionally punctuate the skyline. The current built form controls that apply to the area will remain the same with new buildings a maximum height of 14m.

Activities, uses and infrastructure

This is a mostly residential area with retail along Victoria Street and Peel Street and a mix of commercial and community uses east of Chetwynd Street.

Density and built form

Spencer will be a mid-rise area that supports high quality design, with new buildings a maximum of ten storeys tall. Higher built form will be focused on Spencer Street, Dudley Street, and King Street, with lower built form on side streets. In contrast to the central city, tower and podium towers will not be supported. Instead, alternative typologies that respond to the characteristics of individual sites will be expected. Former warehouses will be reused or sensitively redeveloped to retain a sense of history.

Activities, uses and infrastructure

Spencer will be a mixed use area focused around the busy local high street on Spencer Street, lined with shops, cafes, restaurants and bars south of Hawke Street. Some of these uses will turn the corner into the quieter, greener side streets. Mixed use will be achieved through rezoning Spencer to a special use zone, with a minimum requirements for employment floor space.

Density and built form

The built form of Station Precinct will be a mix of warehouse conversions, contemporary developments, heritage cottages and terraces of a discretionary maximum height limit of eight storeys.

Activities, uses and infrastructure

A cluster of shops, cafes, restaurants and bars around North Melbourne Train Station will be supported by the increasing number of local residents and passing commuters walking to Arden, Docklands and E-Gate. This will be delivered through the rezoning of land from mixed use zone to a special use zone and minimum requirements for employment floor space.

Amendment C309 (now C385): West Melbourne