The Allan Labor Government intends to unblock Victoria’s majorly clogged housing supply using a giant sized plunger known as the Planning Amendment (Better Decisions Made Faster) Bill 2025.
In an attempt to drag the Planning and Environment Act 1987 into the modern era, the ambitious new Bill aims to cut red tape and drastically reduce planning approval times so that more new homes are available to Victorian buyers sooner.
Currently, planning permits take 140 days on average to process, with those lengthy time frames more than doubling if objections are lodged. With the introduction of the new Bill, those processing times will supposedly be slashed by categorising and streamlining planning approvals as follows:
- Stand-alone houses and duplex homes will be approved within 10 days
- Townhouses and low-rise developments will be approved within 30 days
- High rise apartment projects will be approved within 60 days.
The government intends that this Bill will speed up the achievement of housing targets in line with existing reforms and housing initiatives, as outlined by the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning:
“The reforms in the Bill seek to provide a more effective and efficient statutory planning framework to support the delivery of Victoria’s Housing Statement and the actions of Plan for Victoria, including the aim to build 2.24 million homes across Melbourne and our regional cities and towns over the next 30 years.”
Is it achievable? Well, we’re watching closely but not holding our breath.
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