Sustainable design requirements for planning permit applications
We are committed to creating an environmentally sustainable and livable city. We can assist you to incorporate environmentally sustainable design into your development during the planning process.
When you apply for a planning permit you are required to include sustainable design information with your application as required under Clause 15.01-2L-04 of the Hobsons Bay Planning Scheme.
Incorporating sustainable design into new developments
Incorporating environmentally sustainable design into new developments is a requirement under the Hobsons Bay Planning Scheme. The objective is that development should achieve best practice in environmentally sustainable development from the design stage through to construction and operation.
The policy provides objectives and application requirements for residential, mixed-use, and non-residential development. It recognises the importance of considering environmentally sustainable design at the time of planning approval for new developments.
If you are applying for a planning permit to construct a new building, you will need to provide information with your planning permit application across the following areas:
- Energy performance
- Integrated water management
- Indoor environmental quality
- Transport
- Waste management
- Urban ecology
Application requirements
The information that needs to be submitted with a planning application is proportionate to the scale and complexity of the proposed development.
A sustainable design assessment is required for:
- 2 - 9 dwellings.
- A building used for accommodation other than dwellings with a gross floor area between 50 square metres and 1000 square metres.
- A non-residential building with a gross floor area of more than 1000 square metres.
- An extension to an existing non-residential building creating more than 1000 square metres of additional gross floor area (excluding outbuildings).
A sustainability management plan is required for:
- 10 or more dwellings.
- A building used for accommodation other than dwellings with a gross floor area of more than 1000 square metres.
- A non-residential building with a gross floor area of more than 1000 square metres.
- An extension to an existing non-residential building creating more than 1000 square metres of additional gross floor area (excluding outbuildings).
Sustainable design assessment (for small scale development)
A sustainable design assessment (SDA) is a document that sets out the sustainable design features of a proposed development.
The Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS) can be used to undertake a SDA. Submit the BESS report with your planning application to satisfy the requirements under Clause 15.01-2L-04 for an SDA.
It is important that all relevant initiatives are clearly annotated on architectural drawings.
It's generally not necessary to engage a sustainability consultant to prepare an SDA.
Sustainability management plan (for large scale development)
A sustainability management plan (SMP) is more detailed than a SDA. It sets out the sustainable design features of large developments as defined in the application requirements above, and provides more information about how the performance outcomes will be achieved (including implementation schedules).
A BESS report alone will not satisfy the requirements under Clause 15.01-2L-04 policy clause for an SMP.
Large developments provide the opportunity for major resource savings and other environmental benefits, so greater rigour in investigation is required.
It is important that all relevant initiatives are clearly annotated on architectural drawings.
Preparation of an SMP will usually require the engagement of a sustainability consultant.
Sustainability tools
- BESS is a free online sustainability assessment tool purpose-built for the planning application stage. It can assess single dwellings, multi-dwellings, non-residential and mixed-use developments of any size.
- STORM is a free online calculator for testing whether a site achieves best practice water quality objectives. STORM is managed by Melbourne Water.
- MUSIC is detailed stormwater modelling software that is available for purchase from eWater.
- Green Star is a green building certification system administered by the GreenBuilding Council of Australia. The Green Star Buildings tool is suitable for use by large developments.
Sustainable design fact sheets
The sustainable design fact sheets are a series of information sheets aimed at the development industry. They outline best practice standards and offer sustainable design advice across a range of sustainable development categories.
The sustainable design fact sheets are digitised to enable searching, greater accessibility, translation, and printing. You can find the fact sheets here.
The Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment (CASBE) maintains these fact sheets on behalf of CASBE member councils. Hobsons Bay City Council is a member of CASBE.
The following fact sheets are available:
A summary of the relevant best practice standards and councils design advice are included on each of the fact sheet pages, however they are also compiled in one location here.