Luxury Townhouses Planned for Doncaster Growth Zone

A townhouse proposal for a site within walking distance of Westfield Doncaster that targets the area’s designated Residential Growth Zone has been filed.

The planning policy encourages higher-density housing near public transport networks.

Filed is a 16-townhouse project on the 2500sq m site at 55-61 Tram Road, Doncaster, and the planning application has been recommended for council approval.

Paul Shaw and Associates is behind the scheme.

Melbourne Planning Outcomes prepared the planning report for the submission, which is now before the Manningham Council.

The site is within the Main Road Subprecinct identified in the Manningham Residential Strategy for higher-density housing.

According to the planning document, each townhouse would include a double garage accessed from Tram Road, with no visitor parking required due to the site being so close to public transport.

The townhouses would be split across two building types. Units 1-8 would feature ground-floor entry from Tram Road, with three bedrooms on the ground and first floors and a master bedroom with ensuite on the second floor.

Units 9-16 would accommodate three bedrooms on the first floor above ground-level living areas, with roof terraces accessed via spiral staircases.

Westfield Doncaster Shopping Centre, schools and public transport are nearby, with the development designed to provide medium-density housing in an established residential area.

The proposal aligns with Victoria’s broader push for medium-density housing in established suburbs, including draft plans for 25 transit-oriented activity centres across Melbourne that would permit buildings up to 16 storeys near transport hubs.

Recent reforms to the Small Lot Housing Code have also eliminated planning permits for developments on lots under 300sq m, streamlining approval processes for townhouse projects in similar growth corridors.