Using the Old Ipswich Town Plan: How a Superseded Planning Scheme Request Can Help Your Project
On 1 July 2025, Ipswich City Council replaced the long-standing 2006 Ipswich Planning Scheme with the brand-new Ipswich City Plan 2025.
For many landowners, this change means new zoning, new overlays, and new rules that might limit what they can do with their property.
But there’s a window of opportunity.
Until 1 July 2026, you can lodge a superseded planning scheme request—a formal way of asking Council to assess your proposal under the old 2006 planning scheme instead of the new one.
If you’ve been caught out by the changes, this may be the lifeline you need.
What Is a Superseded Planning Scheme?
A planning scheme (or town plan) sets out:
- what land can be used for
- how big, tall or intense development can be
- what approvals are required.
When Council adopts a new scheme, the old one becomes “superseded”.
This doesn’t mean it disappears—it simply stops applying automatically.
But if the new plan is less favourable than the old one, you may have the option to ask Council to use the old rules for your specific proposal.
What Is a Superseded Planning Scheme Request?
It’s a formal request to Council that says:
“My proposal was reasonable under the old 2006 Ipswich Planning Scheme.
The new Ipswich City Plan 2025 makes it harder or impossible.
Please assess my project under the old rules instead.”
The Planning Act gives you 12 months from the date a new scheme starts to make this request.
For Ipswich, that means your deadline is 1 July 2026.
When Would You Use One?
Common situations include:
1. Your property was down-zoned
For example:
- Medium density → low density
- Mixed use → residential
- Business → community use
A down-zoning often means fewer development rights.
2. New overlays or constraints now apply
Your land may now be affected by:
- Lower density provisions
- Lower building height allowances
- flood overlays
- heritage controls
- character overlays
- biodiversity protections
These may limit what used to be possible.
3. A use that was supported is now discouraged
Examples:
- additional lots in a subdivision
- childcare centres
- small apartment buildings
- townhouses
- secondary dwellings
4. You had plans underway based on the old rules
Architectural drawings, engineering work, feasibility studies—sometimes even contracts—were prepared before the rules changed.
A superseded planning scheme request lets Council consider the circumstances you relied on.
What Can Council Decide?
Council may:
✔ Approve the request
Allowing you to proceed under the old 2006 rules—sometimes without a development application at all.
✔ Require a development application
But the assessment will still use the old scheme.
✘ Refuse the request
If so, the new 2025 scheme applies.
How Steffan Harries Can Help
We provide a full service for superseded planning scheme requests in Ipswich, including:
- Reviewing the changes between the 2006 and 2025 plans
- Confirming whether a request is worthwhile
- Preparing the formal request and supporting material
- Handling all communication with Council
- Advising on risks, strategies, timing and next steps
Because this process is strictly time-limited, it’s important to act early to avoid missing the deadline.
Need Advice?
If you think the new Ipswich City Plan 2025 might impact your development intentions, we can review your property and give clear, practical advice on whether a superseded planning scheme request is the right pathway for you. Contact us now!
Deadline to lodge: 1 July 2026.
If you’d like to explore your options, we’re here to help.
