Movement and Place

Movement and Place is a framework that helps us make better decisions about our streets and shapes how we plan, design, develop, deliver and manage our transport networks and public spaces.

It recognises that streets are more than just movement corridors and that they are important parts of our communities that support connection, celebrate local culture and enable people to go about their daily lives. The framework helps us understand the different roles and needs of our streets and public spaces, ensuring they contribute to safe, inclusive, resilient and well-connected environments across Victoria.

Movement and Place 2.0 is the Victorian Government’s updated framework, released in 2026.

It builds on the original 2019 framework with clearer street classifications, stronger consideration of place outcomes and improved integration with land use planning. It also introduces a Vision and Validate approach, helping practitioners establish future aspirations and assess options against those objectives.

At Ratio, we have extensive experience applying Movement and Place principles across metropolitan and regional Victoria. Our multidisciplinary team brings both the technical expertise and practical understanding required to apply the updated guidelines to real-world challenges.

Activity centres often need to accommodate competing demands, from vehicle and freight movements to pedestrian activity, outdoor dining, cycling and public transport.

Movement and Place assessments help councils understand these priorities and identify opportunities to improve safety, accessibility and the public realm. The findings can inform urban design frameworks, streetscape masterplans, transport strategies and future infrastructure investment.

A Movement and Place assessment examines how a street, precinct or transport network currently functions and how it could perform in the future. It considers transport movements, surrounding land uses, public space, safety and accessibility to identify opportunities for improvement. The process can include technical analysis, stakeholder workshops, street classifications, performance assessments and options development.

The framework is used by local councils, state government agencies, transport planners, engineers, urban designers and other professionals involved in planning streets and public spaces. It can support projects ranging from individual streetscape improvements to activity centre strategies and broader transport network planning.

Ratio brings together transport planning, urban design, town planning and landscape architecture expertise to consider streets from multiple perspectives.

We work closely with clients and stakeholders to understand local challenges, establish priorities and develop practical options.

Our experience includes preparing Movement and Place assessments for councils across Victoria, spanning metropolitan Major Activity Centres, outer-suburban transport corridors, and regional and historic townships. Through this work, we have helped councils consider the relationship between transport movements, local activity and the public realm.