Nepean Planning Consultants

22/06/2025

We are currently observing the Winter Solstice, an astronomical event which occurs between 21st-23rd June every year in the Southern Hemisphere. This marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Have you ever noticed how the shadows of buildings change during this time? 🌙

Planners use this date to assess how buildings and public spaces interact with natural light, ensuring urban areas remain functional and comfortable even in the coldest months. ❄

Since the solstice brings the sun to the lowest angle, planners study how light falls across public spaces and buildings.

By understanding the sun's lowest path, planners and architects can optimise building orientations for passive solar heating in winter and natural cooling in summer, ensuring future residents live in comfortable and sustainable homes 🏡

Shadow diagrams are typically required for developments over 1 storey and provide a graphical presentation of the shadows that are cast by the development similar to this image.

06/05/2025

Navigating Victoria’s New Townhouse & Low-Rise Code? NPC can assist!

Since the Townhouse and Low-Rise Code came into effect on 31st March 2025, our team at Nepean Planning Consultants has been working closely with Mornington Peninsula Shire and other local Councils to ensure smooth planning applications under these new rules.

If you’re considering townhouse or low-rise apartment development, reach out to our experts for tailored advice!🏡

25/02/2025

NPC are closely following Council's amendment VC257 and are happy to provide assistance if you have any questions!

Amendment VC257 makes changes to the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) and all planning schemes to introduce Clause 32.10 Housing Choice and Transport Zone (HCTZ) and Clause 43.06 Built Form Overlay (BFO) to support housing growth in and around activity centres and other well-serviced locations in line with Victorias Housing Statement, The Decade Ahead 2024-2034.

VC257 includes the Frankston Activity Centre with a new Frankston Activity Centre Plan, which is a roadmap to guide what Frankston could look like over the next 10, 20, and even 30 years. Frankston is one of 10 activity centres chosen by the Victorian Government.
Here’s what’s in store:

🏙️ More homes close to Frankston Train Station – well-connected to jobs, education, shops, and services.
🏡 Lower-rise apartments and townhouses within a 10-minute walk of the activity centre core.
🌳 A gradual transition in building heights as you move away from the core, blending the activity centre with Frankston’s surrounding suburbs.
⚡ A streamlined planning process to deliver the right types of homes faster within the city centre core. Council are designing new ‘deemed to comply’ standards for building heights, street wall heights and setbacks. If a planning application meets the ‘deemed to comply’ standards, it cannot be refused a permit on the basis of those standards. If someone proposes a building that does not meet those standards, the usual decision-making criteria will apply.

If you have any questions on the abovementioned changes, please call us at 03 5986 1323 or email [email protected]

20/11/2024

We thought it might be useful to let you know Mornington Peninsula Shire have finally activated a portal that will assist your understanding of C219, see below for details.

"Mornington Peninsula Shire Council have launched a new website to check how your property is effected by new Planning Controls.

Amendment C219morn implements Council’s adopted Housing and Settlement Strategy: Refresh 2020-2036 (2020) and Neighbourhood Character Study & Guidelines (2019) by making changes to residential zones, overlays and local planning policies across the Shire. The amendment was adopted by Council on 6 August this year and was submitted to the Minister for Planning for approval on 17 September.

Council’s online property search tool allows you to create an individual property report summarising the adopted amendment’s housing change area (minimal, incremental or substantial), zoning and overlay changes (if any), and maximum mandatory building heights (if applicable).

You can also download copies of the relevant adopted zone and overlay schedules which detail any:

- Mandatory building height limits and subdivision lot sizes
- Planning permit triggers, application requirements and
decision guidelines
- ‘ResCode’ objectives and standards (such as private open
space, front, side and rear setbacks, fencing, etc.)"

If you have any questions about this amendment, feel free to speak to our team (03 5986 1323) or email us at [email protected] 😊

Send a message to learn more

12/06/2024

From the middle of July the NPC team will be based in a new office closer to Mornington town centre on Main Street, feel free to drop in for all your town planning needs 😊

26/04/2024

Confused by the small second dwelling provisions? 🏡 Let Nepean Planning provide guidance on this unnecessarily complicated matter.

On 14 December 2023, Amendment VC253 introduced Small Second Dwellings (SSD) to the Planning Scheme, with the intention to assist with the State’s housing crisis. The Small Second Dwelling essentially replaced a Dependant Persons Unit (DPU) in the Planning Scheme.

Unfortunately, there were unforeseen consequences of VC253, such as the fact that an SSD over 60m2 was prohibited in numerous Zones, despite the fact a DPU over 60m2 was previously permitted. This is an outcome that saw a regression in the ability to construct a SSD/DPU in many Zones, which is obviously the opposite of the intent of VC253.

Somewhat predictably - but thankfully - Clause 52.04 now introduces transitional provisions for the use or development of land for a dependent person’s unit. These transitional provisions allow people to pursue matters associated with an SSD or DPU until 28 March 2025.

Nepean Planning can provide advice or assistance on any matters associated with a Small Second Dwelling, or Dependent Persons Unit.

15/04/2024

Looking to lodge a Planning Application in the near future?🏡 See our step by step guide which outlines the planning application process.

Should you have any further queries, please message us or email [email protected] 📧 where one of our town planners can offer expert advice tailored to your development.

08/11/2022

Today is World Town Planning Day, when planners and communities all over the world come together to celebrate the important role of planning in shaping places, spaces and lives.

Good planning improves the lives of people and communities everywhere and every day.

Today, on World Town Planning Day, we are proud to recognise and celebrate the contribution Australia's planners are making to our country.

Today is World Town Planning Day, when planners and communities all over the world come together to celebrate the important role of planning in shaping places,…