Neighbourhood Character

Neighbourhood character is the way buildings, vegetation and topography create a visual sense of place. Some characteristics are more important than others in creating different characters.

The City of Monash’s residential areas have a 'garden city character' that is highly valued by the community and residents. Developers need a degree of certainty as to the form of development that is acceptable in residential areas, and Council is committed to effectively managing change in these areas.

Council’s Residential Development and Character Policy at the Monash Planning Scheme applies to all residential land in Monash and seeks to enhance the garden city character and ensure development is consistent with the key characteristics and the desired future character of each designated character precinct.

The designated precincts are:

  • Heritage Precincts
  • Creek Abuttal Areas
  • Creek Environs
  • Dandenong Valley Escarpment
  • Garden City Suburbs (Southern area)
  • Garden City Suburbs (Northern area)
  • Oakleigh and Wheelers Hill Activity Centres
  • Monash National Employment Cluster and Clayton Activity Centre - Housing Diversity Area
  • Housing Growth Areas - Clayton Activity Centre and Monash National Employment Cluster

The policy also directs residential growth to activity and neighbourhood centres that are well-serviced by public transport, commercial, recreational, community and educational facilities.

The heritage precincts, creek environs and Dandenong Valley Escarpment present limited redevelopment potential by virtue of their heritage values, proximity to creek reserves and relative inaccessibility to activity centres and transport nodes.

Neighbourhood Character Review 2015

The Neighbourhood Character Study was reviewed in early 2015 to identify the characteristics of the suburban neighbourhoods in Monash. These were embedded into the preferred neighbourhood character policy and neighbourhood character objectives in the schedules to the residential zones. More information: Neighbourhood Character Review 2015 (Planisphere)

For a map and more information about neighbourhood character, view the planning scheme on the Department of Transport and Planning website.

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