Craft Built Homes builds custom homes, renovations, and extensions in Ivanhoe, an established inner-suburban location within the City of Banyule, roughly 10km north-east of the CBD. Known for its Federation and interwar housing stock, strong schools, and Yarra corridor parkland, it's consistently one of Melbourne's most sought-after family suburbs.
Building in Ivanhoe has specific requirements. Banyule's planning scheme includes Heritage Overlays, Neighbourhood Character controls, and Significant Landscape Overlays along the Yarra and Darebin Creek corridors. We've navigated this process many times, we know what triggers a heritage referral and how to structure a permit application before it goes in.
Why Choose Us
Banyule
We've submitted planning applications to Banyule, navigated heritage referrals, and worked within Neighbourhood Character overlays across Ivanhoe. We know what the planning officer is looking for before the application goes in.
Heritage
A large share of Ivanhoe's residential streets carry Heritage Overlays particularly around Upper Heidelberg Road. We know what Banyule's controls actually require, not just what they say on paper.
Scoping
Ivanhoe blocks vary significantly slope, access, soil conditions, setbacks, and tree protections all affect scope and cost. We assess your specific site before quoting so the number you get at the start holds through to handover.
Communication
You'll deal with the same person from first consultation to handover. Not a sales rep who disappears after signing, not a site manager across 20 builds. Your Ivanhoe project gets consistent oversight from someone who knows it.
Pricing
Heritage work, difficult access, and council approvals all get factored in upfront — not discovered mid-build.
Quality
Clean sites, trades that show up when scheduled, and detail in the finished product that's visible well after handover. This is the standard we hold on every Ivanhoe project.
Process
Every Ivanhoe project starts with a site assessment not a brochure. We scope the build around the actual conditions before a contract is signed.
Tell us about your block, your brief, and your budget. If your Ivanhoe property has overlays or access challenges, we'll flag them upfront.
We clarify what's involved, what's realistic, and map out the path forward,. plans, design, and any Banyule council approvals.
We coordinate with your architect or designer, lock in permits, and finalise the build pathway before a sod is turned.
Steady communication, consistent site management, and a clean handover you'll be proud of.
Ground-up custom home. Knockdown rebuild on a block that deserves better. Renovation that finally makes the floor plan work. Extension that gives the family room to grow. Whatever it is, let's talk about what's realistic and how to get it done right.
Craft Built Homes is a boutique custom builder working across Ivanhoe and the City of Banyule. Unlike large volume builders, they manage a small number of projects at once; meaning direct access, tighter oversight, and a higher standard of finish on every build.
Custom home builds in Ivanhoe typically cost between $3,500 and $5,500 per square metre. A 220–250m² home generally ranges from $600,000 to over $1 million for the build alone, excluding land and council fees. Heritage overlays, site access, and reactive soil can affect the final figure and always get a site-specific quote.
In most cases, yes. Ivanhoe sits within the City of Banyule, which applies Heritage Overlays and Neighbourhood Character controls across many streets. New builds and knockdown rebuilds typically require both a planning permit from Banyule Council and a building permit before any work can start.
Many properties in Ivanhoe are affected by heritage overlays, particularly around established streetscapes near Upper Heidelberg Road and the Ivanhoe activity centre. You can check your property's overlay status on Banyule's online planning map. A heritage overlay doesn't stop you from building it means your design must satisfy council's character requirements before approval.
From first consultation to handover, most custom home builds in Ivanhoe take 18 to 24 months. The construction phase alone typically runs 9 to 18 months. Banyule planning approvals especially on heritage-affected sites can extend that timeline if not managed from the start.
Often, yes. Ivanhoe land values are strong, and many older homes have layouts that no longer suit modern living. A knockdown rebuild lets you keep your location while starting fresh with a home designed entirely around your block and brief. Costs typically range from $500,000 to $2,000,000 depending on size and finish. Check for heritage overlays before committing demolition may require a planning permit.
A volume builder works from a fixed catalogue with limited flexibility. A custom builder — like Craft Built Homes designs entirely around your block, budget, and brief. In Ivanhoe, where no two sites are the same, heritage controls are common, and streetscape character matters, a custom builder is the practical choice. Volume templates rarely account for overlay requirements or tight site access.
Yes. Extensions and renovations are a strong option for Ivanhoe homeowners who want more space without leaving a street or suburb they love. Whether it's a rear extension, open-plan addition, or full renovation, the key is ensuring the work aligns with Banyule's planning requirements particularly if your home is in a heritage precinct or character overlay area.
Look for a builder with direct Ivanhoe and Banyule Council experience, a local portfolio you can view, and client references you can actually call. Confirm they're registered with the Victorian Building Authority and carry public liability and domestic building insurance. Avoid builders with vague pricing, no Banyule experience, or too many active projects to give yours proper attention.
Yes. Craft Built Homes regularly works alongside architects and building designers across Melbourne's inner north. If you already have an architect, they manage the build to execute the design. If you don't, they can connect you with designers who have delivered on similar Ivanhoe projects.
Yes. Parts of Ivanhoe particularly areas with older clay-heavy soils can have reactive soil conditions (Class M to H) that require engineered footings. This affects the structural design of your build and the cost of your slab. We identify soil classification in the early planning phase so it's factored into your quote, not discovered during construction.
