When you apply for a planning permit, you must submit information about your project's Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) with your application.
Key requirements
As part of your application for a planning permit, we require you to address 10 key Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) categories:
- Indoor air quality
- Energy efficiency
- Water efficiency
- Stormwater management
- Building materials
- Transport
- Waste management
- Urban ecology
- Innovation
- Construction and building management.
For information on each of these categories, view the Sustainable Design fact sheets on the Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS) website.
Permit application requirements
If you are submitting a planning application for:
- residential development of 2 or more dwellings on a lot, or
- non-residential development of 100 m2 or more,
you must provide each of the following:
- ESD report showing how the design addresses each of the 10 key ESD requirements.
- Stormwater Management Plan responding to the requirements of the Victorian Planning Provisions (VPP) clause 53.18. Tools like Melbourne Water's free STORM online calculator or eWater's MUSIC software can help you.
- Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS) report. BESS is a sustainability tool that quantifies the environmental outcome of buildings during the planning stage. Find out more on the BESS website.
ESD best practice
Practices in ESD are not static – they change in response to current and future challenges, in line with industry standards and according to government policies and commitments.
In 2024, the following design features are considered best practice:
- All electric, with no connections to the natural gas network as per Victorian Planning Provisions clause 53.03. Find out more on the Department of Transport and Planning website and the Victorian Government's Gas Substitution Roadmap website.
- Achieve 7-star energy rating, with preliminary ratings completed at planning stage. Passive design is the most cost-effective way to achieve this rating.
- Electric vehicle charging infrastructure, especially for apartments.
- On-site renewable energy generation and peak demand reduction.
- Bicycle parking and active transport facilities in apartments and non-residential developments.
- Good levels of daylight in regularly occupied areas, in accordance with the BESS daylight standard.
- Managing stormwater by storing rainwater and minimising run-off.
- Maximising green infrastructure and the retention of existing canopy trees.
- Using building materials with low lifecycle impact.
- Retaining the existing structure rather than demolishing it where possible.
- Reducing, reusing and recycling building materials rather than sending them to landfill.
More information
- The Australian Government's Your Home website is the go-to source on sustainable homes. Whether you are a home buyer, renovator or industry professional, find out how to build or renovate a home to be energy-efficient and comfortable for any lifestyle, budget or climate.
- Sustainability Victoria website has resources on sustainable building and renovation.