Bentleigh Structure Plan

Bentleigh Structure Plan 2018

The current Bentleigh Structure Plan was adopted by Council in February 2018 with modifications made in 2020.

To manage development within the centre while Council prepared the Structure Plan, new height and setback controls were introduced into the Glen Eira Planning Scheme on an interim basis through an interim Design and Development Overlay (DDO). The Minister for Planning first approved interim planning controls for the Bentleigh Structure Plan area (relating to height and built form) in April 2017 and they have remained in place since that time, through several extensions.

As part of a more recent extension, the interim controls were removed from the residential land adjacent to the centre. The interim controls now apply only to land in the Commercial, Mixed-Use and Public Use Zones and are due to expire in December 2024.

In 2020, a Planning Scheme Amendment (Amendment C184) was prepared to introduce permanent controls and include built-form recommendations of the 2018 Structure Plan. However, following exhibition and community submissions, Council abandoned the Amendment on 16 March 2021 for various reasons, including that it would benefit from the strategic support provided by a municipal Housing Strategy. To introduce permanent controls, robust strategic work must underpin an Amendment.

Draft Bentleigh Structure Plan 2023

The draft Bentleigh Structure Plan 2023 (Structure Plan) is a 15-year plan to manage the growth of and development in the Bentleigh Major Activity Centre. It is a coordinated approach to planning considering land use, heritage, built form, urban design, transport, parking, public realm and economy in the activity centre.

In preparing the draft Bentleigh Structure Plan 2023, demographic data and previous community consultation was reviewed, as well as expert consultants engaged to consider urban design, heritage, transport and public realm (streetscape).

Findings from these studies alongside the Glen Eira Housing Strategy 2022 are embedded throughout the draft Structure Plan.

The draft Bentleigh Structure Plan was considered at Council meeting on 4 July 2023, whereby Officers sought endorsement for Council to commence a six-week community consultation period.

Council endorsed the draft Bentleigh Structure Plan 2023 for consultation.

We are seeking your feedback on the draft Bentleigh Structure Plan

We are now inviting community members to review the draft Plan and provide us with feedback before consultation closes Monday 11 September 2023.

Have your say or find out more

• Online through the survey (Note, you will need to be signed-in to a Have Your Say Glen Eira account to complete the survey).
• Join one of our drop-in sessions at the Bentleigh Library Youth Hub Training Room, 161 Jasper Road, Bentleigh:
  • Thursday 10 August, 5.45pm to 7.45pm – Register here
  • Tuesday 15 August, 10am to 12pm – Register here
  • Thursday 24 August, 1pm to 3pm – Register here
• Or, join our walking tour through Bentleigh Centre led by our Strategic Planners:
  • Thursday 24 August, 10am to 11.30pm – Register here
• Call us on 9524 3333 to arrange a phone or video call with one of our Strategic Planners about the project.
• Email your submission to engagement@gleneira.vic.gov.au
• Post a written submission to: Engagement, Glen Eira City Council, PO Box 42 Caulfield South 3162.

How feedback will be used

Council will review feedback and consider necessary changes to the draft Bentleigh Structure Plan where appropriate.

Interim planning controls

The Department of Transport and Planning has provided written confirmation that the interim Design and Development Overlays (DDOs) in Bentleigh, Carnegie and Elsternwick Major Activity Centres have been extended to 31 December 2024.

These interim DDOs provide ongoing height and setback controls for the Commercial and Mixed Use Zones in the three centres. The controls in Carnegie and Bentleigh are mandatory and in Elsternwick, they are discretionary. The interim DDOs have been in place since 2018 and extended five times. This most recent extension was granted because Council was able to demonstrate progress with our strategic planning work; in particular, the adoption of the Housing Strategy and preparation of the new structure plans.

To find out more on the Bentleigh interim Design and Development Overlays, visit the Department of Transport and Planning's website.