These guidelines provide advice on how to appropriately design alterations, additions, or new development to properties that are heritage-listed or within a heritage overlay in the City of Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme.

Heritage guidelines help protect the character and identity of Greater Bendigo. They encourage well-designed changes that respect heritage values while supporting contemporary needs.

The guidelines:

• Support good quality renovations, extensions and new development
• Make it easier to understand what changes are likely to be supported
• Help property owners, the community and City work towards the same goal, keeping Greater Bendigo’s heritage strong while meeting today’s needs

The 2020 Guidelines have been reviewed and updated to:

• Separate residential and commercial content into two documents for greater clarity
• Improve readability with a better layout, structure, and new illustrations
• Add updated guidance, including provisions for Post-War heritage and emerging issues like accessibility, sustainability and climate resilience
• Make the guidance easier to access online

The Guidelines are for anyone who owns, manages, designs or proposes changes to a heritage property. This includes homeowners, architects, planners, developers, builders and real estate agents.

They apply to:

• Any property covered by a Heritage Overlay in the Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme
• Both residential and commercial properties

Not sure if this applies to you? Check your property on Bendigo Pozi or VicPlan or contact the City's Statutory Planning team

If your property is individually heritage listed or located within a heritage overlay area in the Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme, these Guidelines apply.

You can check your property on VicPlan or Bendigo Pozi.

You can also contact the City's Statutory Planning team for assistance.

The Guidelines explain the types of changes you can make and what might need to be adapted to protect the heritage character of your property. They will also help you prepare for a planning permit application, if one is required.

No. The Guidelines are designed to support change that respects heritage values. Renovations and extensions are possible. The Guidelines explain how to make changes that contribute positively to the heritage character.

No. The Guidelines do not change zoning or heritage overlay controls. They are incorporated documents within the Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme.

We want to hear your thoughts on:

• Whether the guidance is clear and easy to follow
• If the images and diagrams are useful
• Whether you feel the guidelines support good heritage outcomes
• Anything that you think is missing or could be improved

Your feedback will help us check that the guidelines are practical, easy to use, and reflect community values. All submissions will be reviewed before the final version is presented to Council.

You can continue to apply for a planning permit under the current 2020 Heritage Design Guidelines. The Draft Guidelines are not yet adopted.

Following community consultation, feedback will be reviewed, and the documents will be revised. The final documents are expected to be presented to Council for adoption in early 2026. A planning scheme amendment will then be made to incorporate the documents into the Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme.