Parts of Melbourne set for high rises up to 20 storeys tall under new planning reforms

Wednesday, 18 March 2026 16:36

Four and six storey apartment blocks will be allowed in all 25 centres, depending on their distance to public transport.

High-rise apartments up to 20 storeys tall will be given the green light in parts of Melbourne's inner north under rezoned planning controls touted to help ease the state's housing crisis.

Premier Jacinta Allan and Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny today released finalised planning controls for 25 inner and middle-ring suburbs across Melbourne.

Four and six storey apartment blocks will be allowed in all 25 centres, depending on their distance to public transport.

The 'activity centres' aim to encourage higher-density developments near public transport hubs, to help Victorians who may have been priced out buy into well-connected areas.

"We understood that the status quo wasn't working. We understood we needed to do the hard, detailed work to change the planning rules, to change the planning controls, to get more homes built in these great locations," Allan said.

Towers up to 20 storeys high have been given the green light near train stations in Brunswick and Coburg.

Parts of Hampton, Oakleigh, Hawthorn and Kew will have 16-storey buildings.

"These reforms cut delays and give clear rules – so more millennials get into a home faster," Allan said.

Seven of the 'Train and Tram Zones' are perched along the new Metro Tunnel corridor, near Carnegie, Murrumbeena, Hughesdale, Oakleigh, Middle Footscray, West Footscray and Tottenham stations.

Another six sit along the Glen Waverley line, surrounding stations such as Tooronga, Darling, East Malvern, Holmesglen, Gardiner and Glen Iris.

Apartments 12 storeys tall will be allowed along the Sandringham line in North and Middle Brighton - despite recent protests.

Along the Sandringham lines, activity centre plans have been finalised for North Brighton, Middle Brighton, Hampton and Sandringham stations.

Hubs will also enfold Hawthorn, Glenferrie and Auburn stations on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines.

A zone surrounding Heidelberg station between Bell Sreet and Lower Heidelberg Road will have height restrictions between three and 10 storeys.

Three major tram corridors have also been identified as activity centres, with St Georges Road and High street in Thornbury and Kew Junction outlined for builds up to 10 storeys high.

"We want more Victorians to live in places that have great trains, trams, schools and jobs nearby – that's why we're making it easier to get more homes built," Kilkenny said.

The state government says the train and tram zones will unlock capacity for more than 300,000 homes in the outlined areas by 2051.

The Victorian opposition says it will tear up the plans if it wins the state election in November.

"Thousands of people have protested in my community and what the government has said is 'we're going to stick the middle finger up to you because we don't like your suburb'," Opposition spokesperson James Newbury said.

Kilkenny said public consultation for the activity centres was "the biggest consultation ever undertaken in this state's history".

Another 25 areas are still being planned, with the final plans expected to be released in the middle of the year.

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