March 18th, 2026More Homes Near Public Transport Locked In
More homes are being built in Melbourne’s best connected suburbs – many which have experienced some of the slowest housing growth over the past 30 years.
That’s despite these places being well-connected to great public transport, jobs, schools and services.
It means young people are being priced out.
The final planning controls for 25 train and tram zones in inner and middle suburbs are being released:
- Seven are located along the new Metro Tunnel corridor – Carnegie, Murrumbeena, Hughesdale, Oakleigh, Middle Footscray, West Footscray and Tottenham stations
- Six are along the Glen Waverley Line – Tooronga, Darling, East Malvern, Holmesglen, Gardiner and Glen Iris stations
- Four are along the Sandringham Line – North Brighton, Middle Brighton, Hampton and Sandringham stations
- Three are along the Belgrave and Lilydale lines – Hawthorn, Glenferrie and Auburn stations
- Two are along the Upfield line – Brunswick and Coburg stations
- One on the Hurstbridge line – Heidelberg station
- Three along major tram corridors in Thornbury and Kew – St Georges Road (Thornbury), High Street (Thornbury) and Kew Junction.
These new planning controls make it easier to build homes by giving certainty about what can be built and where. It also stops homes from getting caught up in red tape.
In the immediate ‘core’ of the train and tram zones, controls allow for higher heights – ranging from six to 20 storeys depending on the location.
Buildings that meet planning rules in the core will be ‘deemed to comply’ – meaning they can’t be sent to VCAT, speeding up approvals.
If they don’t meet the rules, they aren’t eligible for this program.
In the catchments that surround the core, there are lower height limits for more townhouses and low-rise buildings.
The inner catchment is up to four storeys or up to six storeys on larger blocks. The outer catchment is up to three storeys or up to four on larger blocks.
Feedback from more than 12,500 Victorians directly shaped the final plans – including changes to height limits, greener streetscapes and stronger infrastructure planning.
Consultation is currently open on a further 23 train and tram zones.
Work on the two inner Melbourne train and tram zones in both Melbourne and Yarra city councils is also progressing.
