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ARTICLE · 23 AUGUST 2016

What you need to know about Victoria's Draft Apartment Design Standards

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Those in the development industry should consider these draft changes now, as they will affect most development design.

AustraliaReal Estate and Construction
Michelle Blackburn
Michelle Blackburn
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The Victorian Government's Better Apartments Draft Design Standards (Draft Standards) have been released with confirmation that they will not impose a minimum apartment size. The Draft Standards are out for comment until 19 September 2016 and can be accessed here ( draft standards).

Given they will affect development design to some degree, it is important that those in the development industry take some time to consider the changes before they are finalised.

HOW WILL THE DRAFT STANDARDS WORK?

They will work like the current ResCode (clause 55) planning scheme provisions, which currently only apply to smaller scale apartments (up to 4 storeys). Like the ResCode provisions, the Draft Standards will be included in the planning scheme and will impose standards which may be able to be deviated from where it can be demonstrated that an alternative design solution still achieves the relevant objective.

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