Hansen’s urban design and strategic planning teams conducted a mandated review under the Heritage Act 2017 (Victoria), which requires the regular assessment of the World Heritage Management Plan, including the 2009 Strategy Plan. This law mandates a review every 7 years. Our responsibilities extended beyond evaluating the 2009 Strategy Plan; we also developed an updated strategy to ensure the continuous protection of the World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens.

Collaborating closely, a team of planners, designers, and heritage specialists developed an approach to closely examine the functionality and effectiveness of the 2009 Strategy Plan. This effort resulted in recommended enhancements outlined in the 2022 Draft Strategy Plan, along with accompanying planning scheme controls. These updates are designed to provide improved protection for the World Heritage values associated with the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens in Melbourne.

To pinpoint necessary updates, we used visual analysis, creating models of potential buildings to highlight gaps in current planning policies. This informed changes to built-form controls, supported by strong evidence, ensuring well-justified and logical planning rule adjustments.