Change of use

Transform the building into a new use

CHANGE OF USE

Need to repurpose a premises for your small business?

House to medical centre? Warehouse to gym? Cafe to nightclub? Whatever you want your premises to become, Change of Plan wants to help you make it happen. Deeply familiar with local government regulations across Melbourne, we’ll do all the grunt work – so you can focus on the exciting part: launching your business!

Who we help

Small business owners

We prepare robust change of use applications for time-poor business owners like you who need fast, cost-effective solutions.

How we help

Pre-purchase advice

Considering buying a property for your new venture? We’ll give you all the preliminary advice you need.

Permit application preparation

We’ll submit an application to Council so that you can bring your vision to life. This includes the town planning report and all other necessary information.

Progress & follow-up

We lodge your change of use application, follow up with Council – and respond promptly to all requests or queries that may arise.

Benefits of working with COP

Expert planning knowledge

Fast response
times

Reliable
advice

Our process

Our streamlined process and professional guidance guarantee a convenient and efficient planning experience.

From initial consultation to final approval, we navigate the complexities of the planning process for you.

Our expert team provides seamless guidance, making the town planning process straightforward and stress-free.

Frequently Asked Questions

What steps do you take to keep me informed throughout the process?

We provide regular updates, share all relevant documents, notify you of key milestones, and discuss any issues promptly to ensure you are always well-informed.

How long does the planning application process usually take?

The planning application process can vary significantly depending on the complexity of the project. You can read a more detailed discussion on planning application processing times here.

What are the benefits of using a town planning consultancy?

A town planning consultancy offers expert knowledge, time and cost efficiency, personalized guidance, problem-solving, professional representation, and stress reduction throughout the planning process.

How do you ensure that my project complies with local planning controls?

We conduct thorough research, provide design guidance, prepare detailed planning reports, and address any issues raised by the Council to ensure your project complies with all local planning controls.

CLIENT STORY

Working hard to
get results

Situation

ZeroSix Training approached Change of Plan for advice on transforming a warehouse into a CrossFit gym.

Challenge

Due to the industrial nature of the surrounds, we could see a potential challenge for our client: parking.

With limited parking onsite and in the immediate area, there was a risk that Council would request an external Traffic Study. These studies are expensive and time-consuming. So, if possible, best avoided.

Outcome

When we prepared the permit application, we included information to show Council that there was enough parking without the need for a Traffic Study.

Council approved the permit and endorsed the plans – and development began without unnecessary costs or delays.

CLIENT STORY

The rare challenge of a multi-purpose business

Situation

A boutique New Zealand brewer wanted to open a small-scale brewery and bar in an industrial zone which neighboured a residential area.

It was a rare situation where the establishment had both an industrial and non-industrial component.

Challenge

Faced with two conflicting demands, our client needed to demonstrate:

  1. That his brewery wasn’t industrial enough to affect the residential community. This meant we had to convince Council and EPA that the odour from the works wouldn’t affect the nearby residences.
  2. That the bar wasn’t so commercial that it would impact industrial uses in the area. This meant addressing Council’s concerns that the bar would not affect parking in the industrial zone – and that the surrounding industrial uses wouldn’t impact the bar.

Outcome

After engaging Change of Plan, our client successfully demonstrated that both uses were appropriate. We showed that neither the brewery or bar would negatively impact the industrial or residential surrounds.

Council approved the change of use application and gave the brewery-bar the green light!

Want to give your change of use the best chance of success?

  • Our enquiries were responded to promptly

    ‘We are very impressed with Change of Plan’s work. They kept us up-to-date on the project’s progress, all our inquiries were responded to promptly – and our planning permit arrived right on schedule.’

    Mark Rabavolgyi

  • A tremendous help as we started our new business

    'Change of Plan was a tremendous help to us as we started up our new business. We found Carli and Mel to be very professional, informative and responsive and we felt at ease knowing they were taking care of our planning for us. Very highly recommended!'

    isolde!

  • More than satisfied with all outcomes

    ‘The team at Change of Plan handled everything professionally. We engaged them to manage a permit application with Bayside City Council and were more than satisfied with all outcomes – the cost, execution and result.’

    Steve Beatty, Vanicorp Pty Ltd

  • Exceptional in their approach

    ‘I was guided through the entire process of my application. The team at Change of Plan was exceptional in their approach to removing my property’s restrictive covenant. In the end, they achieved the best outcome for me.’

    Dhaval K