The City of Melbourne have progressed a much-needed Planning Scheme Amendment to review and update the heritage policies and gradings that guide the development of places protected under the Heritage Overlay within the municipality.
 The Amendment implements the recommendations of the ‘Heritage Policies Review 2016’ and the ‘West Melbourne Heritage Review 2016’, making the following changes to the Melbourne Planning Scheme (corresponding documents hyperlinked in green):

• Revises the content of the two local heritage policies, Clause 22.04 (Heritage Places within the Capital City Zone) and Clause 22.05 (Heritage Places Outside the Capital City Zone). Both new policies have permit application requirements, and provisions relating to demolition, alteration, new buildings, additions, restoration and reconstruction, subdivision, vehicle accommodation, and services and ancillaries.
• Modifies the Schedule to Clause 43.01 Heritage Overlay to introduce 20 new heritage places and revise the descriptions of five existing heritage place, in West Melbourne
• Replace an existing incorporated document: ‘Heritage Places Inventory June 2016’ which grades heritage places using the A to D heritage grading system with a new incorporated document ‘Melbourne Planning Scheme Heritage Places Inventory 2017’ which grades all heritage places within a heritage overlay using the Significant/Contributory/Non-Contributory grading system
• Amend the Schedule to 81.01 (Incorporated Documents) to introduce two new incorporated documents: 1) ‘Melbourne Planning Scheme Amendment C258: Heritage Precincts Statement of Significance 2017’ and 2) West Melbourne Heritage Review 2016: Statements of Significance’

The National Trust has prepared a lengthy submission in response to the Amendment, highlighting a number of further questions and concerns.

To read our submission in full, click here.