Most blocks carry at least one planning overlay. Heritage Overlays (HO) cover a large portion of the suburb. Neighbourhood Character Overlays add another layer on top. Around Studley Park Road, Sackville Street, and Princess Street, even a new front fence can need a planning permit.
That complexity demands more than just a good tradie. It demands a builder who has already sat across the table from Boroondara Council one who knows when to bring in a heritage consultant, and who can read your overlays before you spend money on drawings.
We've worked on homes throughout Kew: Edwardian and Victorian renovations, rear and second-storey extensions under NCO controls , and new builds requiring full planning permits before a slab was poured.
We don't treat heritage overlays as obstacles. We treat them as the design brief.
We're not the biggest building company in Melbourne. We take on a limited number of projects each year, which means the person you speak to at the start of your project is the person managing it throughout, not a sales rep handing you off to a site supervisor you've never met.
For Kew specifically, that matters because the decisions that affect your project most are often made in the first few months. Whether your site needs a heritage consultant before drawings are finalised. Whether a planning permit is required or whether your project can proceed on a building permit alone. Whether an architect needs to be engaged from day one, or whether the design can evolve through our process.
We'll give you honest answers to those questions in the first conversation not because it's a sales pitch, but because a project that starts with clear information runs better than one built on assumptions.
Whether it's a custom home from the ground up, a full renovation that transforms how you live, or an extension that gives your family the space it needs, Craft Built Homes is here to make it happen.
Check the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) register at vba.vic.gov.au search by name or registration number to confirm the licence is current and covers domestic building work. Always ask for proof of domestic building warranty insurance before signing anything.
Many Kew properties sit under Heritage Overlay (HO) or Neighbourhood Character Overlay (NCO) controls managed by Boroondara Council. These can restrict demolition, limit building height, dictate roof forms and materials, and require retention of original facades. Check which overlays apply to your block at boroondara.vic.gov.au before you design anything.
Yes, and it produces better results. A builder involved from the early design stages can flag buildability issues before they become expensive, guide material selections, and prevent costly redesigns mid-construction. Always look for a builder with a proven track record of architect collaboration across Boroondara.
Your builder should be involved before you lodge with council not after. They review drawings for buildability, input on construction methodology, and help prepare documentation that supports a faster approval. Once the permit is issued, they manage the building permit, inspections, and compliance so nothing stalls.
Victorian law requires domestic building warranty insurance on all residential work above the prescribed threshold. This covers you for six years on structural defects and two years on non-structural defects after completion. Full details on your rights as a homeowner are at consumer.vic.gov.au.
Yes. always. Kew has reactive clay soils and rock, especially on sloped blocks. A geotechnical soil test gives your structural engineer the data needed to design the right foundation, whether that's a raft slab, pier-and-beam, or something else. Do it early so the results shape the design, not the other way around.
Construction typically takes 10 to 18 months depending on size and complexity. Add design, planning permit assessment (Boroondara Council typically takes 60–120 days), and pre-construction work, and the total timeline from first brief to handover is usually 18 to 30 months. Heritage or NCO sites can take longer due to additional council scrutiny.
Expect to start from around $4,000 per square metre for a high-quality custom build, with premium architect-designed homes often reaching $6,000–$8,000 per square metre or more. Costs shift based on site conditions, heritage requirements, finishes, and structural complexity. A fixed-price contract with a licensed builder gives you the clearest cost certainty.
Ask for their VBA registration number and current warranty insurance certificate. Request examples of completed homes in Boroondara, ask who will be on site daily, and confirm how variations are handled. Critically, ask whether they have direct experience building under Heritage Overlay or NCO controls in Kew. Not all builders do.
In most cases, yes. Demolition and new construction in Kew is subject to Boroondara Council's planning scheme, and most blocks carry at least one overlay, Heritage, NCO, or Vegetation Protection. Even when a planning permit isn't required, a building permit always is. Check with your builder and a local town planner early to confirm exactly what approvals your site needs.
