Residents will lose the right to object to the building of new private schools under planning laws designed to "fast-track" the development of the Catholic and independent sectors.

Planning laws gazetted last week have removed the right of third parties to challenge non-government school constructions at VCAT, a change the government says will “reduce red tape”.

Residents who object to the expansion of schools such as Scotch College will no longer be able to take complaints to their local council. Credit:Michael Clayton-Jones

The state government made the move after lobbying by planning consultant Urbis on behalf of more than 20 elite private schools, including Camberwell Grammar, Caulfield Grammar, Scotch College and Trinity Grammar.

In its submission to the government, Urbis said independent and Catholic schools were bogged down by local government bureaucracy and that applications were taken to VCAT by residents over "relatively minor matters".