Delivering Planning Solutions
We deliver planning solutions by simplifying the Council planning process and resolving complex planning requirements with strategic advice, design guidance, creative problem solving, effective negotiation and skilled advocacy.
SERVICES
Delivering your planning solutions
Pre-Application Advice
We provide site selection advice and pre-design advice to help streamline your overall planning approval process to help you avoid expensive planning complications.
Planning Application Management
We prepare, lodge and manage planning applications, anticipating and addressing key planning issues and engaging with Council planners to clarify issues and deliver effective planning solutions.
RFI Complications
We intervene to assist your project team to review and resolve planning complications during the application process. Drawing on 25 years experience in planning, mediation and advocacy, we review Council feedback, identify the key planning priorities, provide carefully-considered design advice and engage with Council to negotiate innovative and effective planning solutions to maintain your project vision and help steer your project back on track towards Council approval.
VCAT Advocacy
With 20 years experience providing advocacy in over 400 VCAT appeals, we have an outstanding record of securing permit approvals through VCAT, with negotiated consent solutions before hearing and through effective VCAT hearing advocacy.
Our Numbers
25+
1000+
Years of Experience
Successful Approvals
10
Councils with 50+ projects each
50+
Design Collaborators
Our Work
Small Lot & Heritage
We understand how to work with tight constraints to guide innovative design solutions that resolve heritage requirements, minimise offsite impacts and create functional, high quality living spaces.
Creative collaboration and skilled negotiation have helped us secure outstanding small lot and heritage outcomes in the inner suburban areas of Melbourne, Port Phillip, Glen Eira, Stonnington, Yarra, Darebin and Maribyrnong Council’s.
Townhouse Projects
We understand the wide ranging local policy preferences for duplex, dual occupancy and townhouse siting and design helps us resolve common concerns to maximise your project outcome.
We have guided hundreds of clients through the planning process to secure duplex, dual occupancy and townhouse planning approvals, with project approvals in almost every Council across the Greater Melbourne area and many in Regional Victoria as well.
Substantial Change Areas
We understand the policy drivers for increased housing density in well located established areas as well as the complexity of designing projects to deliver the new built form, scale and typology associated with substantial housing change.
We have a helped navigate the complex planning assessment and community dynamics associated with 3-10 storey apartment projects in Activity Centres and Residential GRowth zones Yarra, Banyule Darebin, Merri bek, Maribyrnong, Monash CC, Port Phillip, Stonnington CC, Surfcoast, Greater Geelong and Greater Bendigo Councils.
Commercial, Retail, Industrial
One of the critical strategic issues for non-residential projects is to understand the scope of planning exemptions and planning pathways that can help streamline the process for faster approvals.
We have helped restaurants, bars, gyms, function centres, medical centres, childcare centres, schools, churches and a range of industrial businesses to secure planning approvals.
Where we work
ABOUT
Chris Mackenzie
Founder and Director
I bring a unique combination of legal skills, planning experience, design understanding and a developer mindset to navigate the complexities of the planning process and secure your planning approval
In the first 10 years of my career, I was a Planning and Environment Lawyer working with national law firms and specialist planning law firms representing State and Local Government authorities, public institutions and large property developers in a wide range of complex planning and legal matters.
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For the past 15 years, I have provided independent planning advocacy services working with a wide range of designers, developers and property owners to guide contentious and complicated planning applications through to approval.
Drawing on my experience in more than 400 VCAT Appeals and 2500 property development projects, I take pride in being able to identify critical planning risks early in the process, provide clear strategic advice and help translate vague and often conflicting Council feedback into innovative design solutions that resolve key planning concerns.
Much of my work involves medium density infill housing, with dual occupancy, duplex, townhouses and smaller apartment projects as my core work, but with a broader portfolio including larger apartments, commercial, medical, education, industrial and agro-business projects.
OUR DESIGN COLLABORATORS
CONTACT
Let’s Work Together
Chris Mackenzie Planning Solutions
Level 40, 140 William Street
Melbourne, 3000, Australia
Tel: +61 0438 355 641
