Specialists in Ashburton's interwar and postwar character. Quality dual occupancy and townhouse outcomes within Boroondara's framework.
Reviewed May 2026Ashburton sits at Boroondara's southern edge, characterised by consistent interwar and postwar housing on regular lot sizes. The High Street activity strip provides a localised village centre, while Markham Reserve and the Gardiners Creek corridor influence development across parts of the suburb. Successful Ashburton projects typically combine sensitive streetscape response with careful integration into the prevailing single-storey character.
Ashburton has specific planning requirements within Boroondara Council. With numerous projects approved across the suburb, we have built relationships with council planners and understand exactly what they look for in applications.
Most residential land in Ashburton falls within one of these zone families, each with materially different development outcomes.
The most common designation across this suburb's residential streets, including Boroondara's Low Scale, Low Density Residential precincts (NRZ3) where character protection is the dominant assessment criterion.
Applies to denser residential pockets. GRZ2 (Contemporary Town House) and GRZ3 (Eclectic Inner Urban) support multi-unit townhouse development.
Applies to selected main road frontages and apartment-scale residential sites.
Source: Boroondara Planning Scheme, planning-schemes.app.planning.vic.gov.au. Latest amendment C284boro Part 1, last verified May 2026.
Applied to protect Ashburton's interwar/postwar character
Selected residential precincts
Protects mature canopy
Applies along Gardiners Creek tributaries
Applies to individual significant trees
Overlay status should be confirmed for any specific site before contract exchange. The planning scheme is the authoritative source — Vicmap Property and the Boroondara Property Profile tool are useful starting points.
high-quality design, considered landscape plans, retention of mature trees, sympathetic heritage responses
heritage character, tree retention, neighbourhood character interface
detailed neighbourhood character assessment with photographic context
6–8 weeks for first Request for Information (RFI)
Per Feasibly council intelligence data, last verified May 2026.
For Ashburton specifically, the council pays particular attention to neighbourhood character overlay considerations.
Gazetted 23 December 2020
Multi-council ministerial amendment (Boroondara among 9 councils) that increased the maximum building height in GRZ1, GRZ2 and GRZ3 schedules from 9 or 10.5 metres to 11 metres and three storeys, aligning local schedules with VC110.
View source →Gazetted 6 March 2025
Statewide reform introducing a deemed-to-comply pathway under Clause 55 for multi-dwelling developments of three storeys or less. Where every standard is met, no third-party appeal applies. Operative for applications lodged from 31 March 2025.
View source →[2022] VCAT 928
restrictive covenant interpretation in a Boroondara residential context.
Practical implication: thorough title and covenant analysis must precede contract exchange, not follow it.
Across recent Ashburton dual occupancy and townhouse outcomes, a recognisable pattern of successful applications emerges. While every site differs, the following observations apply to most viable approval pathways in the suburb.
The principles applied in Mirams v Boroondara CC [2022] VCAT 928 illustrate the Tribunal's approach to the kinds of issues that recur in Ashburton site assessment. The broader principle informs practice across Boroondara: title status, overlay verification, and council-framework alignment should be completed comprehensively before binding commitment to a site, not after.
These patterns indicate typical successful pathways. Site-specific outcomes depend on the particular planning context, design response, and engagement strategy chosen.
Ashburton's interwar street rhythm and selected NCO precincts demand a careful character response. The dual occupancies that consistently win approval here are subordinate in scale and credible on the streetscape — not just compliant on paper.
Sammi Lian, Principal Architect, SQM Architects
— On developing in Ashburton
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Learn more →Apartment developments where Boroondara Council zoning permits higher density.
Learn more →Official planning and building information, permit requirements, and lodgement details.
Visit Council WebsiteFull planning scheme ordinance including zones, overlays, and local policies.
View Planning SchemeState government planning guides including ResCode, heritage guidelines, and application requirements.
View Planning GuidesLatest Victorian planning scheme amendments and reform updates affecting residential development.
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Written by Sammi Lian, Principal Architect.
SQM Architects | ABN 32 600 928 390 | Architects Registration Board of Victoria, Reg. No. 51498.
210+ projects delivered across Melbourne’s east. 98% planning approval rate.
This page provides general information about engaging architects for property development in Ashburton, Victoria. It is not architectural, planning, or financial advice. Site-specific outcomes vary and should be confirmed by qualified professionals after a site-specific assessment. Planning scheme provisions and council practices are subject to change; references on this page were verified May 2026.
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