In a move to speed up the development of social and affordable housing, Amendment VC273 has been brought in which changes clause 52.02 of all planning schemes.
Prior to the amendment, clause 52.02 provided exemptions that were applied to the use or development of land that is:
- Funded wholly or partly, by the Victorian or Commonwealth Government; and
- Carried out by or on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer, Homes Victoria.
This meant that any project that received funding from the Victorian or Commonwealth governments had to be directed through Victoria’s Big Housing Build program to receive the exemption afforded through clause 52.02.
Amendment VC273 changes the heading of clause 52.02 from VICTORIA’S BIG HOUSING BUILD to GOVERNMENT FUNDED HOUSING DEVELOMENT and removes the reference to Victoria’s Big Housing Build program which is replaced by the Victorian or Commonwealth Government. The result of this is it increases the diversity of projects that will obtain the exemptions provided these projects are funded by the Victorian or Commonwealth governments and continue to be Carried out by or on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer, Homes Victoria.
Conditions that the clause does not apply to is maintained such as:
- The subdivision of land.
- The use or development of land in an industrial zone, rural zone or Port Zone.
- The use or development of land in a Bushfire Management Overlay.
Victoria’s Big Housing Build was announced in November 2020. Other planning clauses that relate listed under streamlined planning linked to Victoria’s Big Housing Build and on behalf of Homes Victoria include:
Clause 53.20 – Housing by or on behalf of Homes Victoria facilitates the development of social and affordable housing in a residential zone by or on behalf of Homes Victoria.
Clause 53.23 – significant residential development with affordable housing facilitates the development of social and affordable housing.
These clauses remain in place and have not been affected by Amendment VC273.