Approval of Planning Scheme Amendments for Heidelberg Activity Centre
Published on 24 April 2026
The State Government has approved and gazetted two planning scheme amendments, C172 and GC270, that together introduce new planning provisions for the Heidelberg Activity Centre and surrounding land.
Council is pleased that the intent of the Heidlberg Structure Plan has been applied to the core of the Heidelberg Activity Centre and key areas of surrounding land have been excluded from the State’s higher growth zone to protect heritage and neighbourhood character.
Council asked for other areas of land to be excluded from the Housing Choice and Transport Zone (HCTZ) new zone but not all of Council’s feedback has been incorporated.
Background:
In 2020 Council commenced work on a proposed Heidelberg Structure Plan, followed by a proposed planning scheme amendment C172, that included broad consultation with the community on future development potential for the Heidelberg Activity Centre.
After considering community submissions and the findings on an independent panel, Council adopted both the Heidlberg Structure Plan and Amendment C172 at the 10 February 2025 Council Meeting.
In Late Feb 2025 the State Government announced its own Activity Centres Program would prepare new planning controls for 60 activity centres, including Heidelberg.
In Sep-Oct 2025 the State Government released maps of proposed development areas and guidelines for both the core and adjacent residential areas of the Heidelberg Activity Centre.
Council made a submission to the exhibited maps and asked for changes for certain areas. In particular, Council asked that the some proposed areas, where higher levels of residential growth would be allowed, be reduced on various grounds, including to protect areas of existing heritage, to support appropriate development and because some areas were outside the States Government’s own walkable catchment guidelines.
On 27 March 2026 the Minister gazetted Council’s proposed amendment C172, which introduces Council’s provisions for the core of the Heidelberg Activity Centre, but not all of those that Council proposed for residential land within the periphery of the activity centre.
C172 sets a range of height limits for sites within the core of the activity centre. Specific sites and height limits can now be viewed as part of the Banyule Planning Scheme – Activity Centre Zone schedule and Residential Growth Zone schedules
On 31 March 2026: The Minister gazetted GC270, which for Banyule primarily applies the State Government’s new Housing Choice and Transport Zone, applied as either HCTZ1 or HCTZ2, to much of the residential interface within and outside the Heidelberg Activity Centre. Details of the HCTZ1 and HCTZ2 can now be viewed here: Banyule Planning Scheme - Housing Choice and Transport Zone
The current application of planning scheme zones at Heidelberg, and Banyule in general, can be seen here: Banyule Planning Scheme - Maps