High-density developments to be banned in Victorian neighbourhoods

An article in the Melbourne newspaper The Age reports that the State of Victoria is set to reform planning rules to prohibit high-density apartment developments in existing neighbourhoods.

Attorney-General Robert Clark announced government plans to reform planning laws to provide more guidance about the appropriate locations for high-density developments. Clark said administrators will no longer be able to approve ”very concerning large multi-unit developments on ordinary residential streets, despite opposition by the local council”.

The announcement follows a series in The Age by Swinburne University journalism students investigating how existing planning law and administration stymies local democracy and overrides local councils.

The article is available at http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/highdensity-developments-to-be-banned-in-neighbourhoods-20140222-33928.html.