SITE FEASIBILITY GUIDE
What Can I Build on My Property in Melbourne?
The answer depends on the planning controls, the physical site and the development outcome you are trying to achieve. Feasibility should come before committing to a design direction.
SHORT ANSWER
Start with feasibility, not a preferred building type.
A site may suit a new home, dual occupancy, townhouses or another residential outcome, but the realistic option is shaped by planning controls, overlays, access, dimensions, slope, vegetation, servicing, neighbourhood context and the quality of the proposed response.
The useful question is not simply “how many dwellings fit?” It is “which development pathway is supportable, commercially sensible and worth taking into design?”
01 · PLANNING CONTROLS
What does the planning framework allow?
Review the applicable zone, overlays and other planning provisions first. These can influence use, built form, vegetation, heritage, flooding, access and other matters that affect development potential.
02 · SITE CONSTRAINTS
What does the land itself make difficult — or valuable?
Width, depth, orientation, slope, easements, existing buildings, vehicle access, significant trees and neighbouring interfaces can materially change the development response. A concept that works on one property may not transfer to another property with the same land area.
03 · DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS
Test more than one pathway.
Early feasibility can compare different residential directions before detailed design begins. This may include retaining and extending, replacing with a new home, dual occupancy, townhouse development or a larger multi-residential response where appropriate.
04 · NEXT STEP
Turn the preferred option into a coordinated brief.
Once the preferred pathway is clearer, the project can move into planning, residential design, consultant coordination and approvals with a more disciplined brief and fewer assumptions.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Questions property owners often ask.
Can you tell me exactly how many dwellings I can build from the address alone?
Not reliably. An address is a starting point, but a defensible feasibility assessment also needs the relevant planning controls and site-specific constraints.
Should I engage an architect before doing feasibility?
For development-led sites, early feasibility can help define what the design team should actually test, reducing the risk of committing to a direction before the site has been assessed.
Is the biggest possible development always the best option?
No. Yield is only one consideration. Planning support, design quality, access, construction complexity, market position, cost and delivery risk can all affect the preferred outcome.
Does a feasibility assessment guarantee planning approval?
No. Feasibility is an early-stage assessment and does not guarantee a planning permit or other approval. It is used to identify a more informed pathway before further investment.
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