Car park rules scrapped for developments near trains, trams in inner, middle Melbourne suburbs
Minimum car park rules will be scrapped or significantly relaxed for developments around train and tram zones in inner and middle suburbs such as Brighton, Kew and Footscray in a push to encourage more housing.
Minimum car park rules will be scrapped or significantly relaxed for developments around train and tram zones to release a “handbrake on home building”.
And a new infrastructure contribution charge on developers, to help pay for local roads and parks, has been set at $11,350 per dwelling built in the 60 new zones.
The major changes will be announced by Premier Jacinta Allan and Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny on Wednesday morning, as part of the next phase in its plan to encourage high density housing in inner and middle suburbs such as Brighton, Kew, and Footscray.
Under the new carparking rules, homes near to “high-frequency public transport” will have minimum requirements reduced.
Homes or apartments built “very close” to stations – even in large apartment complexes – would not have any minimum car park requirements, and a maximum of two car parks per dwelling.
For areas that are a “medium distance” from good public transport there would be a minimum of one car park and no maximum, while developments furthest from trains and trams would have a minimum of 1.2 spaces per home.
Premier Jacinta Allan said the rules were being changed “because the status quo doesn’t cut it”.
“Old rules from Victoria’s lowest era of train usage are now blocking new homes for people who rely on public transport,” Ms Allan said.
She said the new infrastructure charges – two thirds of which would go to councils and one third to the state – would help fund local parks, roads, schools and community facilities.
“All up, this is a win for industry who build new homes near public transport, a win for young people who’ll buy them – and a win for their neighbours in the local community,” she said.
The government has data showing that in inner Melbourne, up to 40 per cent of residential car parks now sit empty and say this is a bigger problem in areas well served by trains and trams.
It says think tank The Grattan Institute, which has broadly backed the changes, estimates that providing carparking in line with the current rules costs about $70,000 per dwelling for a newly built six storey apartment building in Melbourne.
Developers are likely to welcome the new flexibility on car parks, which would allow the market rather than government red tape dictate car space numbers.
But communities may be concerned about more cars filling local streets if new homeowners don’t have a park in their apartments.
The new $11,350-per-dwelling infrastructure contributions fees will help fund parks, local road improvements, and other community facilities that will be required as local populations grow.
It follows consultation with developers and councils and other stakeholders, but a broader review of developer charges across the state is ongoing.
Originally published as Car park rules scrapped for developments near trains, trams in inner, middle Melbourne suburbs
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