Plan for Victoria includes an action to implement new planning controls for housing growth close to activity centres, through the introduction of new planning controls within and surrounding 60 identified activity centres (mostly train stations).
Of the 60 identified Activity Centres/ train stations, 15 are within Stonnington:
- Chadstone
- Tooronga Station
- Glen Iris Station
- Gardiner Station
- Darling Station
- East Malvern Station
- Holmesglen Station
- Toorak Village
- Hawksburn Station
- Toorak Station
- Armadale Station
- Malvern Station
- South Yarra Station
- Prahran Station
- Windsor Station
Chadstone Activity Centre was included in the State Government’s pilot program, which identified an initial 10 centres for new planning controls.
Planning is underway for the remaining activity centres identified, beginning with six centres based on the Glen Waverley train line, including Tooronga, Gardiner, Glen Iris, Darling, East Malvern and Holmesglen. The State Government is seeking community input (see the Victorian Government Activity Centres Program page for more information) with Phase 1 consultation closing 15 June. Residents within an approximate 1-1.2-kilometre radius of the centre will have received information on how to be involved.
Council continues to advocate for our community in relation to the Victorian Government Activity Centre Program, pushing for outcomes that respond to our neighbourhoods’ unique context, character and community aspirations.
Chadstone
The planning controls for Chadstone developed by the State Government were gazetted in April 2025 into the Stonnington Planning Scheme. They provide for development of six storeys in a ‘core’ area close to Chadstone shopping centre, and development of three-six storeys within the 800m ‘walkable catchment’ of Chadstone Shopping Centre.
These updated controls including a new Built Form Overlay (BFO) and Housing Choice and Transport Zone (HCTZ) were introduced into the Stonnington Planning Scheme on 10 April 2025 through Planning Scheme Amendment GC252.
Stonnington’s approach to planning for our Activity Centres
The City of Stonnington is supportive of housing growth in suitable areas and has a well-established strategic planning framework that directs and accommodates housing growth in activity centres whilst preserving neighbourhood character.
We have in place a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to delivering on future housing needs, which is based on substantial community engagement, and which will best ensure the liveability and amenity of local neighbourhoods are considered.
Our draft Housing Strategy, endorsed in April 2024 draws on five years of comprehensive analysis of options to meet the growing demand for housing in residentially zoned land, and is underpinned by community engagement.
We are in the process of progressing the Neighbourhood Activity Centres Framework which identifies land use and built form outcomes for the remaining centres without bespoke built form provisions. It was endorsed at our Council meeting on 26 May 2025(PDF, 18MB) to proceed to community engagement which will be commencing in early June. Extensive community engagement has helped shape structure plans for all of Stonnington’s major and large neighbourhood activity centres.
On 16 September 2024, we endorsed a submission(PDF, 603KB) to the Victorian Government Chadstone Activity Centre Plan outlining our position and concerns in relation to the pilot.