The Local Deskin Northcote
Six months on, what happened at 323 High Street
5 Nov 2026
VCAT set aside council's refusal of an amended planning permit for 323 High Street, Northcote, on 24 April. The ABC reported that the decision clears the way for a McDonald's on the site.
Council's planning committee had refused the amendment on 10 November last year, citing its effect on the "character, amenity and operation of the Northcote Activity Centre". The hearing ran from 14 to 17 April. Council says it respects the decision and will work with the applicant and local traders on the amended conditions.
For the neighbourhood, the next chapter is how the approved development fits into the everyday life of High Street. The planning decision is one milestone; what happens at street level will be the part residents and nearby businesses experience.
Filed under The Local Desk · Northcote