The Victorian Government is recognising and rewarding the next generation of great Victorian architecture, encouraging more well-designed homes built to last.
The government's plan will back more townhouses and apartments that stand the test of time in quality, design, aesthetics and sustainability – implementing a new design fast-track pathway, and expanding its State Design Book of ‘future homes’.
Importantly, it'll mean more Victorians are living in homes that look great on the outside – and feel solid as a rock on the inside.
Great Design Fast Track pathway
The government will introduce a new, fast-tracked pathway for buildings with homes that meet the test of build quality, design and sustainability – ensuring developers can build better homes without the additional costs and delays associated with projects that might look a bit ‘different from the norm’.
The Great Design Fast Track will focus on townhouse and apartment projects of three to six storeys in height and is intended to apply statewide. The fast track will work in a similar way to the current Development Facilitation Pathway (DFP), which exists for more significant housing projects. As with the current DFP, locals would retain the right to know what’s going on and have their say.
Through this fast track pathway, Victoria can give a stronger arm to architects and developers who put in an effort and take on more personal risk by building projects that look great and add lasting value to streets and communities.
The Minister for Planning will begin work to develop the accelerated pathway, giving confidence to architects, developers and Victorians.
State Design Book
The government will also expand its State Design Book of ‘future homes’ – projects that are planned on paper alongside artists’ impressions but don’t yet exist – by welcoming the best examples of good, affordable designs that are already in the ground, home to Victorians and loved by locals.
The book will be made more useful through the inclusion of high-quality developments that are already complete – at a scale up to 6 storeys – with designs required to encourage sustainable, family friendly and accessible homes, with communal spaces and gardens.
Victorians also be able to have their say, with the public encouraged to nominate great buildings they live in or love – which they think meet the good design criteria and deserve to be replicated across the state.
The government will also help to get these well-designed buildings off the ground by securing government-owned land for innovative ‘demonstration’ developments.
The developments will have to demonstrate high quality design, liveability and sustainability, including modern methods of construction – and be made open to the Victorian public to experience.
These demonstrator buildings will then be made available to become homes for Victorians to buy or rent.
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