A structure plan is like a roadmap that sets out the long-term strategic vision for an area and an action plan on how it will be achieved. The plan will guide change over the next 20 years including:

• future land use
• types and heights of buildings
• improved transport and how people can access and move around the area
• open spaces and parks
• infrastructure improvements
• character of the area including heritage
• sustainability
• economic opportunities.

Structure plans are a way in which councils can manage and plan for the outcomes of population growth for a particular area.

Plan Melbourne is the Victorian Government’s strategy on how they will deal with Melbourne’s population growth until 2050 while remaining a liveable city. Melbourne’s population is expected to grow from 4.6 million to almost 8 million by 2051.

The population in South Melbourne is expected to grow by 28.8% from 9,105 in 2021 to 11,730 in 2041.

The South Melbourne Central Structure Plan and South Melbourne Central Urban Design Framework were adopted by Council in 2005 and implemented in 2008. Since that time demographic and land use changes have occurred. In addition, other issues have arisen over time, including:

• Poor design outcomes on larger buildings related to bulk, height, scale and flood mitigation;
• Restrictive controls leading to the underdevelopment of some sites;
• Negative impacts to heritage, character and amenity; and
• Loss of investment to neighbouring areas

Addressing these issues and changes times creates an exciting opportunity to develop a new structure plan that is current, relevant and reflects the community’s aspirations for South Melbourne.

You can make a time to speak with the Future South Melbourne team and also make a submission containing your feedback.

The Structure Plan is informed by technical analysis, including urban design and heritage studies that set out recommendations for the design of new development in South Melbourne.

The Structure Plan recommends new planning controls for South Melbourne, it is not applying new planning controls. To implement the recommendations of the Structure Plan, including changing planning controls, a planning scheme amendment to the Port Phillip Planning Scheme will be required. The planning scheme amendment process will follow the notification requirements set out in the Planning and Environment Act 1987. For more information of the amendment process – please follow the link.

The draft SMSP recommendations are very selective with the application of mandatory (must comply with) building height and setback controls. Consistent with the direction of the Victorian Government about applying mandatory controls when ‘absolutely necessary’, they are applied to:

• locations of intact heritage streetscapes within and around Clarendon and Park Streets.
• locations with a direct, sensitive interface/abuttal with low scale residential properties
• protect key public open spaces from overshadowing.

The draft SMSP approach to developing a built form, building designand heritage framework has been informed by extensive technical analysis and 3D modelling.

Further, the recommended planning controls in the draft SMSP will strengthen South Melbourne’s Major Activity Centre and Enterprise Precinct through encouraging investment, while also protecting heritage, enhancing the public realm, and managing amenity impacts. These new planning controls also seek to provide more clarity and certainty for all stakeholders through the planning process.

The Commercial 2 Zone (C2Z) in South Melbourne is the one of few precincts in Port Phillip where dwellings are not permitted.

Protecting South Melbourne’s employment only land (C2Z) is vital in accommodating businesses within Port Phillip that are not compatible with the residential amenity expectations (such as those that operate machinery 24/7) or cannot be located near dwellings due to the storage or certain materials. Examples of these businesses include arts and events business that support the Arts Precinct in Southbank and need to be close by and operate 24/7, and dairy food manufacturing.

Protecting the C2Z is also vital in providing more affordable spaces for businesses to locate, especially businesses in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, and Information Media and Telecommunications. These are industries that form South Melbourne’s economic specialisation.

A floor area ratio (or FAR) is a type of planning control that sets a specific amount of development that can occur on a site. It is expressed as a ratio between the amount of Gross Floor Area (GFA) that can developed and the area of a site.

The key benefits of using FAR controls alongside building envelope controls are they:

• set realistic and clear expectations about the potential development yield on a site.
• enable flexibility for an architect to choose how they organise their building layout and form on their site within a preferred built form envelope and focus on design quality rather than yield.
• can help deliver a range of building typologies, helping to deliver a range of uses and provide visual interest
• provide design flexibility to respond to the specific conditions of a site and the surrounding context.
• have a direct relationship with the size of a site and can therefore be relatively easy to communicate
• provide a clear and consistent measure to support efficient decision making.

The use of FAR controls alongside building envelope controls is a standard planning mechanism that is used by other inner metropolitan Melbourne councils in regulating development and effectively protecting existing character.

As activity intensifies in South Melbourne, competition for road space among vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians, and even trams will also increase. A proactive and balanced approach is essential to effectively manage access to and within South Melbourne, mitigating congestion.

The draft SMSP recommends:

• Continuing to implement the City of Port Phillip Parking Management Policy to ensure parking spaces are carefully managed and respond to community needs
• Assessing the merits of preparing a Parking Precinct Plan and associated Parking Overlay to identify car parking needs and issues for South Melbourne and manage parking at an activity centre wide basis.

The State Government is proposing reforms to planning for parking requirements and bicycle facilities, The draft SMSP identifies the benefit of these new reforms for South Melbourne and the broader municipality, and the need for Council to work with the Victorian Government in their formulation.

The South Melbourne Movement and Transport Study included a capacity assessment of the existing road network and identifes opportunities to investigate to manage traffic in the area. Directing trips to more sustainable modes of transport will aid in maintaining intersection capacities within acceptable limits, reducing the need for intersection capacity improvements, as well as allowing these resources to be directed elsewhere.

To support this, the draft SMSP recommends other transport upgrades including realigning the Route 96 South Melbourne Station tram stop to enhance accessibility to the South Melbourne Market, extending the Route 1 tram along Park Street into South Melbourne, and advocating for increased bus frequency.

Consultation to date on this project highlighted how much the community values South Melbourne’s easy access to green and open spaces. Consultation also highlighted the community’s desire to increase greenery and open space for current and future generations.

The public realm will have a vital role in supporting the success of South Melbourne Major Activity Centre (MAC) and Enterprise Precinct. Importantly, the public realm contributes to facilitating connections between workers across and within industries. In this way, an attractive and welcoming public realm will increase investment confidence, encouraging businesses of all sizes to locate in South Melbourne. This is particularly the case for South Melbourne’s industry specialisations such as professional services and creative industries where the public realm will support the continued clustering of these industries.

To this end, the draft SMSP identifies actions seeking to:

• Create cool, green streets for people to improve amenity, comfort and public health
• Be water-wise to effectively respond to climate change, and protection of assets and property
• Shape public spaces to support a variety of uses and enterprises
• Reinforce civic pride and sense of place.

Further actions are included within the draft South Melbourne Public Realm Framework.

The Structure Plan will be accompanied by an implementation plan, which will identify actions that Council can implement, actions that Council can implement with other stakeholders and actions for other parties. Where Council can’t deliver the outcome, the structure plan will be used to advocate for a particular outcome. The Structure Plan will also be used to facilitate and guide private investment in South Melbourne, including new development.

The Structure Plan will be implemented once it is adopted by Council, which is likely to be in mid to late 2024.

Once the Structure Plan has been developed, it will be adopted by Council for implementation. A planning scheme amendment will be prepared to implement any recommended changes to the Port Phillip Planning Scheme, which will follow the notification requirements set out in the Planning and Environment Act 1987. The implementation plan will guide the delivery of other actions in the Structure Plan.

We will be seeking the views of stakeholders and different government departments. Building on previous project phases, you have an opportunity to have your say about the Structure Plan.

The Structure Plan will be accompanied by an implementation plan, which will identify actions that Council can implement, actions that Council can implement with other stakeholders and actions for other parties. Where Council can’t deliver the outcome, the structure plan will be used to advocate for a particular outcome. The Structure Plan will also be used to facilitate and guide private investment in South Melbourne, including new development.