Craigieburn West Precinct Structure Plan and Amendment VC249 Set Permit and Contribution Rules for Dwellings

The Craigieburn West Precinct Structure Plan covers approximately 562 hectares and guides land use where the Urban Growth Zone Schedule 12 applies. Under the UGZ12 and this plan, a planning permit is generally required for most developments, though a permit is not required to construct one dwelling on a lot under 300 square metres.

For Craigieburn residents, these provisions establish the steps needed before most building or subdivision work can proceed in the precinct. The rules apply directly to properties within the designated area and determine whether a formal application must be lodged with the relevant authority.

Exemptions for Small Second Dwellings in Craigieburn North

Amendment VC249 took effect in January 2024 and exempts small second dwellings from development contributions plans in the Craigieburn North precinct. The Craigieburn North Employment Area Precinct Structure Plan, gazetted in 2016, applies the Industrial 1 Zone and Commercial 2 Zone to support industrial and commercial development.

Residents in Craigieburn North can therefore add qualifying small second dwellings without paying the contribution fees that would otherwise apply. This change removes one cost element for those specific structures while the underlying zoning remains in place to facilitate employment-related uses.

Housing Diversity Provisions Near Beacon Hills Crescent

Properties in areas such as Beacon Hills Crescent are designated as Moderate Change Areas under the Hume Diversity Strategy. The designation encourages housing diversity through a mix of one and two-storey units and townhouses within a walkable distance of amenities.

For Craigieburn residents in these locations, the classification sets expectations for the types of housing forms that align with local planning objectives. Development proposals in Moderate Change Areas are assessed against these diversity aims alongside the permit requirements that apply across the precinct.

Planning decisions in Craigieburn continue to be made in accordance with the Craigieburn West Precinct Structure Plan, the Craigieburn North Employment Area Precinct Structure Plan and Amendment VC249. Residents considering development on their land can review the specific zone and overlay provisions that apply to their property to determine the applicable process.