Property Development Feasibility — Melbourne

What a Feasibility Study Covers

A feasibility study answers one question: what can be built on this site, under what rules, and at what realistic cost. For Melbourne property development, the core checks are the same for a single house, a dual occupancy or a townhouse project.

• Site area and shape — the true parcel size and boundary geometry from the title cadastre
• Zoning and planning scheme — what the zone permits, density and height controls
• Overlays — heritage, vegetation, flood, neighbourhood character and other controls that add permit triggers
• Easements and services — sewer, water and drainage lines that restrict where you can build
• Buildable area — the envelope left after front, side and rear setbacks, plus site coverage
• Development scenarios — single dwelling, dual occupancy or multi-unit, with indicative floor area and cost range

The Melbourne Planning Context

Melbourne development is assessed under the Victorian Planning Provisions and the ResCode standards in Clause 54 (single dwellings) and Clause 55 (two or more dwellings). Every council applies these with its own local schedules — minimum lot sizes, garden area requirements, front setbacks and parking standards differ between councils such as Boroondara, Whitehorse, Monash, Manningham and Bayside.

That is why a generic 'can I build two dwellings?' answer from a builder is rarely reliable. The same 600 m² block can be excellent for a dual occupancy in one council and much harder in another, purely because of the schedule to the zone.

How We Run a Feasibility Check

Our free 30-second check pulls the parcel, zoning, overlays, easements, site levels and street trees for any Victorian address. From there we model the buildable area, test single and two-dwelling scenarios, and flag the constraints that will drive your cost.

When you need a full assessment, we prepare a structured feasibility report: property information, planning controls, site constraints, development potential, indicative building envelope, scenarios, a risk score and our recommendation.

• Free address-level screening — no sign-up needed
• Single and two-dwelling scenarios with indicative costs
• A formal report for banks, councils and design briefs
• A clear recommendation on whether the site is worth pursuing

Why Run Feasibility Before Buying

The most expensive mistake in property development is buying a site the planning scheme will not let you use. A feasibility study typically costs a fraction of one survey or design fee and can stop you overpaying for land that only supports a single dwelling when you planned two.

It also gives you a strong negotiating position: when you know the true buildable area and the likely permit conditions, you can price the land correctly and brief your designer with a clear brief.

Frequently Asked Questions

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