Heidelberg is Banyule’s most prominent activity centre, comprising 215 hectares of commercial, residential, industrial, public use, medical, community and open space land. As a Major Activity Centre, it is a significant source of employment, housing and economic activity, accommodating one of Melbourne’s largest hospital precincts in a picturesque location near the Yarra River (Birrarung). Heidelberg’s planning framework is a critical element for Melbourne’s north-east region and the centre’s structure plan and its implementation is key to the region’s success.

With these factors as critical drivers, Plan2Place Consulting, in association with Design Urban, undertook a peer review of the Heidelberg Structure Plan and then revised the structure plan (both text, diagrams and maps) based on the peer review to provide a best practice planning document.

The project also involved drafting an Activity Centre Zone schedule for the centre which incorporated land use and development controls into one planning instrument along with local policy and updates to the Municipal Planning Strategy in the Banyule Planning Scheme. A new schedule to the General Residential Zone was drafted and mapping corrections were also undertaken.

After exhibition of Amendment C172bany, submissions were summarised and recommendations made to Council officers and Councillors through briefings on the most appropriate ways to respond to the 92 submissions received.
Expert evidence was provided to the Panel for the Amendment by Directors at both Plan2Place Consulting and Design Urban. Although there was debate about the nature of mandatory verses discretionary controls, the Amendment was largely supported by the Panel (with revisions to remove mandatory setback controls) and then adopted by Council.