One of the most common questions applicants ask is how long a planning permit will take. The short answer is that although Council does have a statutory time frame this stops and starts through the process and so can be difficult to follow.
The reality can sometimes be a little different to the statutory timeframes.
There are two different assessment pathways available depending on your proposal: a ‘standard’ planning application and a VicSmart application.
Each follows a different process, and that’s what drives the timing.
Wherever possible we will always use a VicSmart application pathway to minimise the time and costs for the our clients.
For a ‘standard’ application, Council is required to carry out a more detailed assessment. That means the application is reviewed internally, sent to referral authorities where required, and often advertised to surrounding properties. Each of these steps has its own timeframe, and they tend to run one after the other rather than at the same time.
A standard application process will typically take anything from three months upwards even where the statutory 60 days is being met.
Whilst we find Councils generally try hard to meet statutory timeframes particularly in the early stages of an application, there can still be delays due to staff due to workload or resourcing.
Once a standard application reaches the advertising stage, another variable is introduced: objections.
If no objections are received, the planner can usually proceed to a decision once all referrals are completed.
If objections are received the Council will generally allow for the applicant (or their Town Planner) to provide a response or for further consultation to be undertaken.
VicSmart applications are different. They’re designed for simpler proposals with lower planning impact and are assessed against a limited set of deemed to comply criteria. Because of that, they avoid public advertising and usually limit referral requirements.
This allows Council to issue a decision within 10 business days.
VicSmart applications can still result in a request for further information which might extend the overall timeframe experienced.
A lot of timing issues come back to how the application is prepared. Common problems include incomplete documentation, underestimating referral requirements, or assuming that VicSmart automatically guarantees a quick approval. It doesn’t. It simply removes some of the steps a more traditional application would take.
If you’re trying to work out how long your application might take, or why it isn’t progressing as expected, it’s usually worth stepping back and looking at the pathway it’s following.
In many cases, delays aren’t random. They’re tied to specific stages in the process according to a statutory ‘clock’.
If you’ve received a request for further information, or your application seems to have stalled, it may be worth having a professional planner review the application strategy. Often, a small adjustment early can prevent a much longer delay later.
