Getting a planning permit approved shouldn't feel like rolling the dice, but for many property owners in Melbourne, that's exactly what it feels like.
You've got an idea for your property, maybe it's a new home, a dual occupancy development, or subdividing your block. You're excited about the potential. You might have even spent money on preliminary designs. Then you submit your application to the council, and weeks later, you get hit with objections, requests for more information, or worse, a flat-out rejection. It's frustrating. It's costly. And most of the time, it's avoidable.
The truth is, most people don't understand council rules. They don't know if their idea is even allowed or feasible. They're not sure what zoning means, what overlays apply, or how neighbourhood character gets assessed. So they take their best guess, submit an application, and hope for the best. That's where things go wrong.
Councils reject planning applications for specific reasons, and once you understand what those reasons are, you can design and plan in a way that avoids them altogether. That's what the town planning consultants in Melbourne and across Victoria do: remove the confusion before it becomes a problem.
In this blog, let's understand the main reason councils reject planning applications, and what you can actually do about it.
Top 5 Reasons Your Planning Application Gets Rejected
Here are the reasons you can consider:
1. Bad Design
This one might sound vague, but it's surprisingly common. "Bad design" doesn't necessarily mean ugly; it means a design that doesn't work well with the site, the surroundings, or the purpose of the building.
Councils look at things like:
- How the building sits on the block
- Whether it's too bulky or out of proportion
- If windows overlook neighbouring properties in intrusive ways
- Poor internal layouts that don't make practical sense
- Lack of natural light or ventilation
A poorly designed building isn't just about aesthetics. It's about liveability, functionality, and how it affects the people around it. If your design looks like it was slapped together without much thought for context or amenity, the council will pick up on that quickly.
How to avoid it: Work with someone who understands good design principles and the local area. At SilverPoint Building Designers & Planning Consultants, we don't just draw plans; we consider the neighbourhood character, the orientation of the site, and how the building will actually function day-to-day. We take into account architectural styles that fit the area while still meeting your needs and budget.
2. Not Complying with the Zoning
Every piece of land in Victoria has a zoning designation: Residential, Commercial, Industrial, and so on. These zones dictate what you can and can't do on that land.
For example, you can't just decide to build a childcare centre in a zone that only permits single dwellings. Or try to squeeze four townhouses onto a block that's zoned for low-density housing with strict limits.
Zoning rules cover things like:
- The type of use allowed (residential, commercial, mixed-use, etc.)
- Maximum building height
- Setbacks from boundaries
- Site coverage limits
- How many dwellings are permitted
If your application doesn't align with the zoning, it's going to get knocked back, simple as that.
How to avoid it: Before you even start designing, check what zone applies to your property. This is something we do right at the beginning during feasibility assessments. We'll tell you upfront what's possible and what's not, so you're not wasting time or money chasing something that's never going to get approved.
3. Not Complying with the Overlays
Overlays add another layer of control on top of the base zoning. Think of them as extra rules that apply to specific areas for specific reasons.
Common overlays include:
- Heritage Overlay: Protects buildings or streetscapes of historical significance
- Neighbourhood Character Overlay: Maintains the look and feel of certain suburbs
- Design and Development Overlay: Controls building height, setbacks, or design in sensitive areas
- Bushfire Management Overlay: Requires stricter building standards in fire-prone zones
- Vegetation Protection Overlay: Protects significant trees
Miss an overlay and your application can be dead in the water. For instance, if there's a heritage overlay and you've proposed a modern glass box that clashes with the period homes around it, the council won't approve it.
How to avoid it: Overlays aren't always obvious unless you know where to look. We check every overlay that applies to your site and design accordingly. If there are significant trees to protect or heritage guidelines to follow, we factor that in from day one so there are no surprises later.
4. Does Not Meet Neighbourhood Character
Neighbourhood character is one of those things councils take very seriously, especially in established suburbs. It's about maintaining the "feel" of an area, the rhythm of rooflines, the style of homes, the amount of greenery, and the street setbacks.
If your proposed development looks completely out of place, the council will push back. A three-storey concrete box in a street full of single-storey weatherboard cottages? That's going to raise red flags.
Councils assess things like:
- Building height relative to surrounding homes
- Front setbacks and garden space
- Architectural style and materials
- Roof pitch and form
- How the building addresses the street
How to avoid it: This is where local knowledge really counts. We've worked across Melbourne for years and understand what different councils are looking for in different suburbs. We design buildings that fit in without being boring. It's about respecting the context while still creating something functional and appealing for you.
5. Council Planner Is Not Satisfied with the Application
Sometimes it's not about a specific rule you've broken; it's that the council planner just isn't convinced. Maybe the application is incomplete, the drawings are unclear, or the justification for your proposal isn't strong enough.
Council planners receive hundreds of applications. If yours is missing key information, poorly presented, or doesn't address their concerns upfront, it's going to get delayed or rejected.
This can happen when:
- The town planning report is weak or missing
- Drawings don't show enough detail
- You haven't responded properly to objections from neighbours
- The application doesn't explain how it complies with planning policy
Councils want to approve good projects, but they need to be satisfied that everything stacks up. If you haven't made a strong, clear case, they're not going to do the work for you.
How to avoid it: This is where experience makes all the difference. We prepare comprehensive town planning reports that address every relevant planning control and policy. We anticipate questions and objections, and we respond to them before they even come up. Our applications are thorough, well-documented, and presented in a way that makes the planner's job easier, which means faster approvals for you.
Why Contacting the Town Planning Consultant Is Important
Most people don't understand council rules. They don't know if their idea is even allowed, let alone feasible. They get stuck bouncing between designers, councils, and surveyors, wasting time and money doing things in the wrong order.
That's the confusion, SilverPoint Building Designers & Planning Consultants, remove.
We are one of the trusted planning consultants in Melbourne. We guide you from the very beginning, helping you understand what you can and cannot do on your property, reviewing zoning and overlays, and advising you on whether your idea is viable before you invest. We handle all council applications and keep the process moving until you've got your permits in hand.
Key Takeaways
Obtaining approval for your Planning Application is not simply a matter of completing the forms; it also requires an understanding of the rules, the idea behind your design, and providing evidence backing your case to the Council. Avoid being turned down by using the expertise of those who know the system inside out and who will assist you at every stage of the process.
At SilverPoint Building Designers & Planning Consultants, we will make the entire planning process as easy as possible for you. Our services include everything from design, town planning and Building Permit coordinating across Melbourne. New custom homes, townhouse developments, land subdivisions in Melbourne and commercial projects are all handled with efficiency, from concept to approval for construction and without the hassle.
