{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.text}} {{region}} Change location{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change location {{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.text}} {{region}} Change location{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change location'Great Design Fast Track' should encourage more gentle density (Vic)
'Great Design Fast Track' should encourage more gentle density (Vic)
Member and guest login
Enter your email and password to access secured content, members only resources and discount prices.
Did you become a member online? If not, you will need to activate your account to login.
If you are having problems logging in, please call HIA helpdesk on 1300 650 620 during business hours.
Forgotten password
Need some help?
If you are having problems logging in, please call HIA helpdesk on 1300 650 620 during business hours.
If the email address you have entered is registered, you will receive an email with further instructions.
Become part of the HIA community
Enables quick and easy registration for future events or learning and grants access to expert advice and valuable resources.
Create a guest account
Enter your details below and create a login
The Victorian government has announced that applications are open through the Development Facilitation Program for this new streamlined planning pathway. Projects with more than 8 homes in buildings between two and eight storeys that meet the government’s design principles will quality for this pathway.
“Universally it is accepted that planning systems are buckling under the weight of approving homes in the timelines that are needed. Equally it is accepted that business as usual approaches to planning for our future communities isn’t going to cut it.
“It has been pleasing to see the Victorian government put forward new initiatives to seek to bring more projects online faster but, in reality we need the pedal to the metal to pull out all stops to get more new land and projects online faster. This initiative is but a step in the right direction.
“Good quality, well designed and well-located apartments have an important role to play in addressing the state’s housing shortage. HIA supports initiatives such as this with the aim of to encourage and fostering the quicker delivery of lower and medium density housing to market.
“Given that these applications have input from the Office of the Victorian Government Architect and Invest Victoria, we think exempting them from review rights is a fair and measured response. The Minister will have the information needed to make a responsible decision. Provisions that reduce notification and appeal rights where a robust decision-making process has been put in place have existed in the planning system for many years and are nothing to be afraid of.
“It is noted however that any applicant wanting to lodge an application under these new provisions will need to provide a lot of detailed design. It is anticipated this may create a lag in the uptake of this initiative as industry prepares. We hope that these requirements won’t prove too demanding in practice and meet the needs of home buyers.
“In other countries where standard design or pattern book designs have been effective in streamlining and fast-tracking approvals, the designs have been outcomes based rather than an overly prescriptive design recipe book.
“We all know of the need to ensure 800,000 new homes are built in the coming decade. There remain numerous regulatory barriers and difficulties the industry faces in achieving this. We urge the Victorian government to continue with further initiatives that allow the home building industry to build the new homes that Victoria needs,” concluded Mr Ryan.
For more information please contact:
Detached house approvals picking up
“There were 9,490 detached homes approved in the month of April 2025, up by 3.3 per cent compared to the previous month,” stated HIA Senior Economist Maurice Tapang.
State Budget is a missed opportunity to stimulate housing
The Treasurer has handed down the 2025/26 Tasmanian Budget. The Budget focuses on alleviating cost of living pressures, health, education and infrastructure, while mapping out a path to a fiscal balance surplus in 2032/2033.
HIA supports bipartisan approach to planning reform NSW
“The NSW planning system has failed to deliver the number of homes we desperately need and we fully support removing the politics from housing, to address this growing crisis,” said Brad Armitage, HIA Executive Director NSW.
Opposition pledge to remove stamp duty for first home buyers welcomed (Vic)
The Victorian Opposition’s announcement that it would remove stamp duty for first-home buyers spending up to $1 million on a new or existing home if elected at next year’s state election, is a positive step towards improving home affordability,” says Steven Wojtkiw, HIA Victoria Deputy Executive Director.