Planning & Building

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Heritage Architecture

 Prefabricated (Singapore) Cottage, South Melbourne Winner Victorian Architecture Awards 2009

A large part of Port Phillip is protected by a heritage overlay, which ensures that inappropriate design will not affect the appearance or amenity of a heritage precinct.  This means you are required to lodge an application for planning approval for most buildings and works.  The Council's Planning Scheme makes it clear that development must preserve heritage and be sympathetic and respectful to heritage places.

Heritage Overlays Protect Heritage Character

A dwelling in Hambleton Street, Middle Park was identified as a "significant heritage place" under the Port Phillip Heritage Review. The owner had made a proposal for a contemporary first floor addition that included a dominant 'blade' element that sprang from the front ridge of the roof and projected to the rear of the site to a height of 7.75 metres.

The applicant engaged in pre-application meetings and was advised that the proposal would not be supported. The council refused to grant a permit for the addition. The applicant appealed the refusal at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), which supported the council's decision. The tribunal noted the evidence of an expert witness, who said because the design was so visible and out of scale it would have been intrusive.

What is the Port Phillip Heritage Review?

The Port Phillip Council adopted the Port Phillip Heritage Review in August 2000 as part of Amendment C5. The review is extensive and builds on a number of previous studies undertaken by the former St Kilda, South Melbourne and Port Melbourne councils.

Attached to the review are the Port Phillip Heritage Policy Map and the Port Phillip Neighbourhood Character Policy Map. The heritage policy map identifies all heritage overlays within the municipality, and identifies whether properties within an overlay are a significant heritage place, contributory heritage place, or a non-contributory property or unmapped. The character policy map identifies contributory heritage places not covered by the heritage overlay.

The Port Phillip Heritage Review, the Port Phillip Heritage Policy Map and the Port Phillip Neighbourhood Character Policy Map are documents incorporated in the Port Phillip Planning Scheme.

Does My Property Fall Within a Heritage Overlay?

To determine if you are within a heritage overlay you will need to go to visit the Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development website, which includes details about planning schemes, local planning policies including the Port Phillip Municipal Strategic Statement, planning schemes online and planning scheme amendments online.

To view the Port Phillip Planning Scheme Heritage Overlay Maps visit:  http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/

To view the City of Port Phillip Heritage Policy Map, click on the attached document. Heritage Policy Map.pdf

What heritage grading does my property have within the Heritage Overlay?

Significant heritage places include buildings and surrounds that are individually important places of either State, regional or local heritage significance or are places that together within an identified area, are part of the significance of a Heritage Overlay. These places are included in a Heritage Overlay either as an area or as an individually listed heritage place and are coloured "red" on the City of Port Phillip Heritage Policy Map.

Contributory heritage places include buildings and surrounds that are representative heritage places of local significance which contribute to the significance of the Heritage Overlay area. They may have been considerably altered but have the potential to be conserved. They are included in a Heritage Overlay and are coloured "green" on the City of Port Phillip Heritage Policy Map.

Non-contributory properties are buildings that are neither significant nor contributory. They are included in a Heritage Overlay and have no colour on the City of Port Phillip Heritage Policy Map. However any new development on these sites may impact on the significance of the Heritage Overlay, and should therefore consider the heritage characteristics of any adjoining heritage place and the streetscape as covered in this policy.

How Do I Get a Copy of the Heritage Review?

Hard copies of the Port Phillip Heritage Review, the Port Phillip Heritage Policy Map and the Port Phillip Neighbourhood Character Policy Map can be viewed at the council's Planning and Building department located at St Kilda Town Hall, St Kilda. Telephone (03) 9209 6424.

Hard copies of the Port Phillip Heritage Review, the Port Phillip Heritage Policy Map and the Port Phillip Neighbourhood Character Policy Map can be viewed at the council's Planning and Building department located at St Kilda Town Hall, St Kilda. Telephone (03) 9209 6424.

Copies are available in all Port Phillip library branches.

Heritage Advisory Service

Free assistance for residents, developers and businesses on heritage matters

The City of Port Phillip is keen to help you maintain and enhance the historic built environment which defines much of the character of this area. To assist residents in heritage areas, the Council employs a urban design and heritage advisor. The assistance is free to owners of all residential and commercial historic buildings in the municipality.

This can assist with heritage matters including:

  • colour schemes
  • fences
  • restoration of altered facades and verandahs
  • gardens additions and alterations
  • significant interiors
  • repairs and structural problems
  • applying for relevant permits
  • sourcing materials or trades-persons

The assistance focuses on the exteriors of buildings but consultation on significant interiors is also available.

The following guidelines have been prepared to assist applicants:

How Can I Access the Assistance?

The planning department can make an appointment with you to meet with the heritage advisor. At this meeting it should be possible to establish guidelines for your proposal.  This advice is not a substitute for planning and building permits which must be obtained in the usual manner.

To arrange an appointment, telephone the Planning and Building Department on (03) 9209 6424.

Pre-application Stage

People are encouraged to speak with a council planning officer before starting any works at your property.

This process is referred to as the pre-application stage and is vital to ensure that you are fully informed about what is needed and why and can save you time and money in
the long run.

A pre-application meeting can be arranged with planning staff at the council offices or on site at your home and is a free service.

Streaming Service

The council also offers a streaming service to ensure faster service for relatively minor, straightforward planning applications. A "fast track" planner is on hand to deal with these applications.

Buying a heritage property in Port Phillip

A large part of the City of Port Phillip is included in heritage overlays under the Port Phillip Planning Scheme. Much of the rest of the municipality is affected by neighbourhood character policies. The City of Port Phillip will generally resist the loss of historic buildings in all locations.

Our heritage adviser can assist prospective purchasers of residential or commercial sites to understand the opportunities and limitations of heritage controls and policies. If you are seriously interested in purchasing a property, check with the planning department about any heritage controls applying. If so, you can make a brief on-site appointment with the heritage adviser by telephoning Statutory Planning on (03) 9209 6424.

Heritage grants

There are no heritage grants available for restoration of heritage homes within the City of Port Phillip.

Planning Permits Are Required for Demolition of Heritage Properties

Planning permits are required for the demolition or part demolition of heritage listed properties.  The demolition of buildings graded significant or contributory are not supported. 

One owner in Middle Park discovered it was important to apply for a planning permit before any major changes are made.

A dwelling in Page Street, Middle Park had been identified as a "significant heritage place" under the Port Phillip Heritage Review. Under delegation, the council refused to grant a permit for retrospective approval for demolition of the chimney at the front of the site. The application was refused because the proposal failed to comply with the Port Phillip Heritage Policy. The chimney was seen as an important part of the heritage fabric of the building, which contributes to the uniformity of a row of six dwellings.

The applicant appealed the council's refusal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). The tribunal affirmed the council's refusal and directed that the applicant be ordered to reconstruct the chimney.

In making its decision, the tribunal noted that the chimney was a feature of the dwelling that contributed to the significance of the heritage place and provided a valuable architectural feature that contributed to the significance on a group of dwellings in the section of the street.

Another property owner in Fishermans Bend, Port Melbourne illegally demolished a significant graded building and was fined and convicted in the Magistrates Court.

Useful Links to Heritage Sites

Also see Council's Historical resources or through your local library for more information.

More Information

Contact Us or use eServices to ask us a question, request information or give us feedback online. Ask for Planning and Building.