Following the adoption of the Carnegie, Elsternwick and Bentleigh Structure Plans, Council resolved to apply for interim height controls to protect these centres whilst detailed permanent controls reflecting the Structure Plans are being prepared.

Council would like to thank the Minister for Planning Richard Wynne for giving the community assurance that the amenity and vibrancy of these activity centres will be protected whilst Council completes this important piece of work.

The interim protection that Council requested reflected a reduction in building heights for the three centres than what is currently allowed under the Glen Eira Planning Scheme. This was to ensure that no inappropriate development occurred which could affect the integrity of our Structure Plans.

Bentleigh and Carnegie interim mandatory heights were approved as submitted to the Minister, and reflect Council’s Structure Plans. (a mandatory height cannot be exceeded and there is no opportunity to vary it, even through VCAT; whereas a discretionary height is a ‘preferred’ height which can be varied and a decision by Council can be challenged at VCAT)

In Bentleigh, the maximum mandatory heights are now between two and five storeys.

In Carnegie’s Koornang Road main commercial area, heights are set at a mandatory maximum of four storeys. The commercial area between Dandenong Road and the railway line in Carnegie now has mandatory maximum heights ranging from 8 to 12 storeys. Carnegie’s residential areas now have mandatory maximum heights of two to four storeys.

For Elsternwick, which previously had no height controls, Council’s request for mandatory heights have been approved by the Minister as discretionary heights:

• Up to 2 storeys in the heritage residential areas
• Up to 4 storeys for the section of heritage shops on Glen Huntly Road
• Up to 12 storeys for the commercial end of Glen Huntly Road between Nepean Highway and the railway line

Also, Council’s request for a mandatory 8 storey maximum height limit for buildings in Selwyn Street was approved as a discretionary maximum building height of 10 storeys. These changes to Council’s request still compare favourably to the previous situation of no height controls for Elsternwick.

New interim planning controls for Bentleigh, Carnegie and Elsternwick Maps

Elsternwick Urban Renewal South Masterplan

The interim controls recently approved by the Minister do not apply to the Urban Renewal South Area in Elsternwick. In line with Council’s commitment, the future planning for this precinct is undergoing a separate process – referred to as the Elsternwick Urban Renewal South Masterplan. Council has committed to a more detailed master planning process with further community engagement on this precinct before settling on final controls. For further information on this project and to get involved in our community engagement process, visit https://www.gleneira.vic.gov.au/our-city/planning-for-the-future/the-future-of-elsternwick/elsternwick-urban-renewal-south-masterplan