Deemed-to-comply deemed compliant with pro-housing vision for planning

Streamlining and reducing discretion in planning processes is an overwhelming good

The planning system is plagued by conflicting subjectivity and uncertainty. By introducing more deemed-to-comply provisions to the planning scheme, housing providers and builders can work with greater certainty that they will not be held up by the very rules that helped create this housing crisis.

Some elements of codification raise alarm bells

The Government must ensure the deemed-to-comply controls have the fewest possible opportunities to fail.

For instance, it was announced that the new code will require "a mix of 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments in projects of a certain size, to support families".

In the context of a social housing waitlist dominated by need for 1 and 2-bedroom units, micromanaging the number and distribution of apartments will ensure Victoria's housing needs will be mismatched with supply in perpetuity.

Codification up to three storeys is great—and should be extended to six

The Victorian Government has indicated that they are open to extending the deemed-to-comply approach to buildings between four to six storeys.

We urge the Government to continue with this ambitious reform and work to codify up to six storeys to maximise the benefits of the Activity Centre Program's catchments as a tool to solve the housing shortage.