Town planning in the City of Knox.
Wantirna · Ferntree Gully · Rowville · Boronia · Bayswater · Scoresby · Knoxfield
Knox sits at the foot of the Dandenong Ranges, and its planning scheme reflects that setting: environmental significance and landscape overlays across the foothills, vegetation protection, bushfire management areas, and a strong canopy-tree culture in its residential decision-making.
Alongside the environmental layer sits a substantial commercial and industrial economy — Bayswater, Scoresby and the Knox Central activity centre — and steady residential development pressure through Wantirna, Rowville and Boronia.
Knox is one of our deepest council relationships. We authored the incorporated document behind Amendment C202knox — the ministerial approval pathway for a 7MW solar farm at The Basin — prepared the strategic plan work for the Knox City Shopping Centre precinct, and have delivered commercial projects from car dealerships in Ferntree Gully to multi-dwelling infill in Boronia.
Controls you'll commonly meet in Knox.
Every property is different — these are the zones and overlays that most often shape applications in this municipality. Each links to the current ordinance in the Knox planning scheme.
What the numbers say about Knox.
planning applications recorded, FY2015–16 to FY2022–23
of determined applications resulted in a permit or notice of decision
median time from lodgement to decision
Source: Department of Transport and Planning, Planning Permit Activity Reporting (PPARS) register — historical data to mid-2023. Withdrawn and lapsed applications are excluded from the approval rate. These figures describe the council overall — your site's prospects depend on its specific controls.
Selected Knox projects.
7MW Solar Farm — Planning Scheme Amendment, The Basin
Ministerial approval of Amendment C202knox to the Knox Planning Scheme — introducing a Specific Controls Overlay and an incorporated document authored by Perry Town Planning to facilitate a 7MW solar energy facility.
Car Dealership Redevelopment, Ferntree Gully
Car-dealership redevelopment in a Commercial 2 Zone with industrial-area interface management.
Knox City Shopping Centre Strategic Plan
Strategic planning study for one of Victoria's largest super-regional activity centres on behalf of a major institutional client.
The Villa, Boronia
Multi-unit residential development delivering quality medium-density housing.
Services we provide in Knox.
Residential
Single dwellings, dual occupancies, multi-unit and apartment developments — the backbone of our practice.
Commercial Permits
Statutory planning strategy, lodgement and permit management for commercial, retail and industrial projects.
VCAT Appeals
Strategic advocacy when your application is refused or objected to.
Strategic Planning
Planning scheme amendments, rezonings and structure plans for long-horizon projects.
Development Advice
Know what you can build before you buy — or before you commit capital.
Renewable Energy
Solar farms, wind farms and battery storage — specialist approvals experience.
Questions we’re asked most.
If you have a question that’s not here, call us — we answer honestly, whether or not it leads to work.
- Usually yes, but the overlays shape what is achievable: tree retention, siting, and sometimes an ecological or arborist assessment come first. The cheapest time to deal with an ESO, SLO or VPO is before the design is drawn — we scope the constraints and brief the right sub-consultants at the start.
Got a site, a permit, or a refusal on your desk?
An obligation-free conversation is the fastest way to see if we can help. We respond within 24 hours — usually much sooner.