A new era of sustainable design: Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track goes live

The Victorian Government has officially launched its ambitious Great Design Fast Track (GDFT) initiative—an accelerated planning pathway designed to raise the bar on housing design quality while addressing the state’s pressing housing demand. 

At the heart of the GDFT is a commitment to architectural excellence and environmental responsibility. The initiative targets multi-dwelling residential developments of between two and eight storeys, with a minimum of eight dwellings per project. 

To qualify, proposals must meet rigorous design and sustainability benchmarks—most notably, exceptional energy performance.

Under the scheme, apartment projects must achieve an average Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) score of at least 8 stars, with no individual dwelling below 6.5. 

For townhouse-style housing, the minimum requirement is a 7.5-star average. All homes must also incorporate effective natural cross-ventilation. These requirements are intended to promote thermal comfort, reduce emissions, and support Victoria’s broader climate targets.

By shifting responsibility for qualifying applications directly to the Minister for Planning, the GDFT can cut average assessment times from over a year down to just four months. 

This reduction is made possible by exempting projects from third-party reviews and appeals, as well as allowing certain planning scheme requirements—such as height limits, setbacks, and landscaping provisions—to be varied where a strong design rationale is provided.

Crucially, only projects that clearly demonstrate alignment with the state’s newly published design principles will be eligible. This ensures that while the process is faster, the quality bar remains high.

The design principles are the following:

•    Neighbourly homes: Enhancing local identity by embracing change and generating lasting social value.

•    Welcoming homes: Creating welcoming and safe homes that promote a sense of family and community.

•    Landscaped homes: Enhancing local biodiversity, natural systems and connections to nature.

•    Sustainable homes Enduring and high-performing, embedding climate resilience and minimising environmental impacts.

•    Healthy homes: Enhancing health and wellbeing through integrating the natural and built environment.

•    Adaptable homes: Housing that meets the diverse and changing needs of households and families.

•    Good value homes: Supporting more affordable housing through innovative housing development and delivery models that respond to changing housing markets.

To support architects, designers, and developers, the Victorian Government has released the first volume of the state design book, a curated collection of exemplary mid-rise housing projects that reflect the values of the GDFT. 

This evolving document serves both as inspiration and as a practical reference, helping the industry interpret what “great design” looks like in the context of the fast-track framework.

Professionals are also invited to nominate completed projects for future inclusion, helping to build a shared resource that reflects the diversity and ingenuity of Victoria’s design culture.

For architects, planners, and developers, the GDFT represents both a challenge and an opportunity. 

It demands higher standards in design, but in return offers a streamlined path through what has often been a slow and complex approvals system. For firms already committed to sustainable, human-centred design, the scheme provides a competitive edge and greater certainty during the development process.

For the broader built environment, the program signals a cultural shift—one that positions quality architecture not as a luxury, but as a baseline for urban growth.

The GDFT is set to create better homes, more liveable cities, and a more sustainable future. As housing pressures continue to mount, the initiative offers a way forward that doesn’t sacrifice quality for speed.

Industry professionals are encouraged to explore the criteria, familiarise themselves with the State Design Book, and consider how their projects might align with this new vision for Victorian architecture.

To find out more or access the guidelines, visit the official GDFT page.

Image: FiledIMAGE / Envato