DEVELOPMENT COMPETITION BEFORE YOU BUY
How do you compare townhouse and subdivision competition before buying a Melbourne site?
Before buying a Melbourne development site, compare nearby lodged, assessed and approved townhouse or subdivision applications by location, stage, published scale and timing. The pattern can test a supply assumption, but it cannot prove what will be built, predict approval or replace professional advice.
Direct answer · seven eastern and south-eastern Melbourne councils · dated snapshot reviewed 31 July 2026
01
Start with a dated, bounded local signal
LotIntent’s 18 July 2026 local snapshot contains 10,888 residential-development and subdivision planning records dated from 2023 across seven covered councils; 10,103 have a confident map coordinate. It is research evidence for comparison, not a real-time or all-Victoria permit count.
- Records since 2023
- 10,888
- Confident map coordinates
- 10,103
- Covered councils
- 7
- Snapshot date
- 18 Jul 2026
02
Compare the pipeline in three passes
Use the map to frame the question, then return to the responsible council record for decisions that matter.
Define the comparable area
Start at the candidate address. Expand only when a 500 m–5 km comparison matches the likely buyer, product type or catchment you are assessing.
Do not treat a wider radius as automatically more accurate.Separate stage from certainty
A lodged or review-stage application signals a proposal; an approved planning permit signals a decision, not guaranteed construction, sales timing or delivered supply.
Read the current council record and conditions for material projects.Compare disclosed project facts
Use published description, dwelling count, project type and dates when they are available. Missing or inconsistent public fields are a limitation, not a reason to estimate them.
Do not infer unit mix, feasibility or market absorption from a map pin alone.03
Free discovery versus paid comparison
Official planning tools remain essential. LotIntent adds value only when repeated spatial comparison changes what you investigate before an offer.
| Option | What it can answer | Boundary |
|---|---|---|
| VicPlan and planning schemes | Which zone and overlays apply to the candidate land? | Free official context; verify interpretation with qualified advisers or the responsible authority. |
| Council planning register | What does the responsible council publish for a specific application? | The original source for material facts; fields and documents differ by council. |
| LotIntent Free | What planning activity appears within 100 m of one confirmed address? | Three address previews; it is a discovery starting point, not a due diligence conclusion. |
| LotIntent VIP | How do multiple candidate sites and wider nearby areas compare? | Unlimited address and map-pin searches, 500 m–5 km, council/suburb views and published project detail. First 30 days A$99.90; then A$69.90/month. |
04
Why this can be worth paying for before an offer
VIP does not predict approval. Its value is faster, repeatable comparison while you can still change a site shortlist or what you ask advisers to investigate.
Compare alternatives
Test more than one candidate site without repeating fragmented council-by-council searches.
See beyond the nearest parcel
Move from a free 100 m preview to a decision-relevant local context.
Keep the source boundary
Use LotIntent to find patterns, then verify important records with the responsible council.
05
Townhouse and subdivision competition FAQ
Should I check nearby townhouse applications before I buy?
Yes, when competing supply, local character or your acquisition thesis could change. They are one input, not a complete site assessment.
Does an approved planning permit mean the project will be built?
No. Approval is not a guarantee of construction, sales, finance, timing or project completion.
Are lodged applications the same as approved developments?
No. A lodged application is a proposal; stage labels must be read with the responsible council’s current record.
Can I use a permit map to estimate demand or resale value?
No. Permit activity may inform questions for advisers, but it does not establish demand, valuation, feasibility or a financial outcome.
Does LotIntent cover every Victorian planning permit?
No. The disclosed coverage is selected eastern and south-eastern Melbourne councils, with dated snapshots and known public-record limits.
What can I see before paying?
A free account includes three confirmed-address previews with full permit detail within 100 m.
What does VIP cost?
VIP is A$99.90 for the first 30 days and A$69.90 per month after that unless cancelled. Site pricing and Stripe Checkout are AUD-only.
Can LotIntent replace a town planner, lawyer or council check?
No. Verify material records with the responsible council and use qualified professional advice for purchase or development decisions.
06
Official sources and limits
These sources explain the official due-diligence and planning boundaries. LotIntent’s dated local snapshot provides the comparative map evidence only.
LOTINTENT
Check one candidate address first
Use the free 100 m preview to see whether nearby townhouse or subdivision activity changes your next question. Upgrade only when repeated candidate-site comparison or wider context could change the decision work before Stripe Checkout.
VIP: first 30 days A$99.90 · then A$69.90/month · AUD-only