Sustainable Design Assessments
Sustainable Design Assessment (SDA) for Planning Permits
A Sustainable Design Assessment (SDA) is a key requirement for many small to medium developments across Victoria. At Green Choice Consulting, we prepare comprehensive, council-ready SDA reports that demonstrate your project’s sustainability performance and streamline the planning permit process.
Our team specialises in energy and sustainability assessments, working closely with architects, builders, and developers to minimise redesigns and avoid costly delays.
Whether you’re planning townhouses, apartments, or a commercial fit-out, we’ll make sure your submission is clear, compliant, and tailored to your local council’s requirements.
Get a quote today or book a consult with our SDA specialists. Call 1300 864 944.
Table of contents
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What Is a Sustainable Design Assessment (SDA)?
A Sustainable Design Assessment (SDA), also called a Sustainable Design Statement (SDS), is a planning document that demonstrates how a proposed development will achieve Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) outcomes.
Councils across Victoria require SDA reports to support planning permit applications for a wide range of residential and commercial projects, particularly under the Sustainable Design Assessment in the Planning Process (SDAPP) framework.
An SDA is guided by the Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS) assessment tool, which evaluates developments across 10 key categories of sustainable design:
- Management: sustainable building management and operational commitments.
- Energy: efficient building fabric, lighting, appliances, and renewable energy options such as solar PV systems.
- Water: water-efficient fixtures, rainwater collection, and reuse strategies.
- Stormwater: Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) measures such as raingardens and tanks.
- Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ): natural daylight, ventilation, and shading for occupant comfort.
- Transport: bicycle facilities, EV readiness, and public transport access.
- Waste: construction waste reduction and long-term waste management.
- Urban Ecology: landscaping, canopy trees, and biodiversity enhancements.
- Materials: responsible material selection with low environmental impact.
- Innovation: additional sustainability features beyond best practice.
See below for a detailed breakdown of the above categories and minimum requirements.
Most councils require an SDA for small to medium residential developments (1–9 dwellings) and smaller-scale commercial projects (typically between 50–500 m²). For larger or more complex developments, a Sustainability Management Plan (SMP) is usually required instead.
Benefits of a Sustainable Design Assessment
By addressing each of these categories, your project not only meets council compliance requirements but also delivers long-term environmental and economic benefits, such as:
Faster planning approvals
Reduced project costs & operating costs for occupants
Healthier living environments
Adds long-term value to the development
Compliance with local regulations and ESD policies
Improved building performance
Contact our ESD Specialists
Get in contact today and learn how we can help ensure you meet the SDA requirements.
An SDA addresses the 10 key SDAPP framework categories used by councils, ensuring your submission matches both quantitative BESS results and qualitative planning policy expectations.
These assess practical sustainability measures with minimum thresholds for some categories:
1. Management
What it means: Commitment to sustainable building management and construction practices.
Council expectations: Attend council meetings as an ESD consultant, ensure independent energy and water metering, provide preliminary thermal modelling data, and develop a building user guide.
How to score higher: Conduct preliminary thermal modelling, particularly energy ratings for townhouses and apartments, and provide a comprehensive building user guide.
2. Water
What it means: Efficient water use and reuse throughout the development.
Council expectations: Installation of rainwater tanks, energy-efficient water fixtures, and water-conscious landscaping.
How to score higher: Use rainwater tanks for toilets, irrigation, and laundry. Tanks also act as detention systems during heavy rainfall
3. Energy
What it means: Energy-efficient building design, appliances, and systems.
Council expectations: Preliminary thermal modelling results, solar panel systems, energy efficient appliances, and strategies to reduce artificial lighting reliance.
How to score higher: Improve glazing and insulation, consider all-electric services, and incorporate renewable energy. Achieving a higher star rating in the thermal modelling data will improve your energy section
4. Stormwater
What it means: Effective collection and treatment of stormwater to protect underground water systems.
Council expectations: STORM or BlueFactor calculations (100% compliance), with options like rainwater tanks, rain gardens, buffer strips, or permeable paving.
How to score higher: Align stormwater management with council preferences. Minimum 100% BESS score required.
5. Indoor Air Quality (IEQ)
What it means: Ensuring healthy, comfortable, and well-lit indoor spaces.
What councils look for: Double glazing, cross-ventilation, north-facing living areas for at least 50% of dwellings, good access to daylight, and appropriate shading devices.
How to score higher: Incorporate passive design principles early. Minimum 50% BESS score required.
6. Transport
What it means: Supporting alternative transport options.
What councils look for: Bike racks, showers for cyclists (commercial), EV charging stations, car share provisions, and parking for motorbikes.
How to score higher: Ensure sufficient bicycle parking for residential developments and provide alternative transport options for commercial projects. Results contribute to the minimum 50% overall BESS score.
7. Waste
What it means: Sustainable management of construction and operational waste.
What councils look for: Recycled building materials, appropriate roof/garden waste management, and convenient recycling systems.
How to score higher: Document and implement waste reduction strategies. Contributes to overall 50% BESS compliance.
8. Urban Ecology
What it means: Enhancing green spaces and biodiversity.
What councils look for: Large vegetation spaces, green roofs, green walls, balcony taps, and dedicated food production zones.
How to score higher: Allocate ≥35% site area to vegetation and maximise native planting. Contributes to overall 50% BESS compliance
9. Materials
What it means: Responsible selection of building materials with low environmental impact.
What councils look for: Use of recycled or low-impact materials.
How to score higher: Specify sustainably sourced, low-carbon, locally manufactured materials. Minimum 50% BESS contribution.
10. Innovation
What it means: Incorporating new technology or initiatives beyond standard BESS requirements.
What councils look for: Innovative approaches for energy, water, or environmental management, often applied in larger developments.
How to score higher: Implement initiatives that exceed BESS minimums to earn extra points once baseline compliance is achieved.
Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD)
Victorian councils require developments to demonstrate compliance with stormwater best-practice targets:
- STORM or BlueFactor tools for smaller sites (BlueFactor replacing STORM gradually).
- MUSIC modelling for larger, complex developments.
We provide full WSUD documentation, including results, drawings, and explanatory notes, so councils can clearly see how your project meets best practice.
How to Achieve a Higher BESS Score
Higher scores reduce RFIs and streamline approvals. Practical strategies include:
-
Energy
Improve insulation, high-performance glazing, solar panels, or heat-pump hot water. -
Water
Connect larger roof areas to tanks for toilet flushing and irrigation. -
IEQ
Optimise window placement for daylight and ventilation. -
Transport
Provide secure bike parking and EV-ready infrastructure. -
Ecology
Include canopy trees and native planting in landscaping
We advise on the most effective improvements tailored to your project to help you better incorporate Environmentally Sustainable Design principles into your development.
Residential vs Commercial SDA Requirements
SDAs are utilised for both medium-scale residential developments and commercial developments, with varying requirements.
Residential Developments:
- Typically required for 2–9 dwellings, such as townhouses, dual occupancies and boutique apartments.
- Emphasis on thermal performance (NatHERS rating), water reuse, and stormwater management.
- Must demonstrate comfort, affordability, and practical sustainability measures for residents.
Commercial Developments:
- Smaller commercial or mixed-use developments usually require an SDA (larger ones may require an SMP), such as shops, warehouses and/or offices.
- Focus on transport options, operational waste management, and services efficiency (e.g. HVAC systems, hot water systems). Opportunities for rooftop solar or green infrastructure.
- May require additional documentation such as Section J reports for energy efficiency compliance.
How Much Does An SDA Cost?
The cost of a Sustainable Design Assessment typically ranges between $750 and $3,000 depending on the project size.
At Green Choice Consulting, we provide upfront guidance on SDA fees. To obtain a quote, please contact us on 1300 864 944 to discuss your project.
What Do You Need to Provide for an SDA?
To prepare your SDA, we’ll need:
- Town planning drawings (site plan, floor plans, elevations, sections, materials and window details)
- A BESS report (or we can prepare this for you)
- A STORM report rating (stormwater management tool – we can complete this as part of the SDA)
- Appliance efficiency data (energy labelling, WELS ratings, lighting and hot water systems)
- Details of any proposed renewable energy devices (solar, battery, etc.)
- Council request for further information (if applicable)
Don’t have all of this ready? No problem. Our team can guide you through missing documentation or prepare additional modelling on your behalf.
What We Deliver
Engaging Green Choice Consulting provides a complete council-ready package:
- SDA report (PDF), aligned to your council’s template.
- Completed BESS report & certificate, including mandatory category passes.
- WSUD evidence: STORM or BlueFactor results, drawings, and explanatory notes.
- Preliminary thermal modelling results (residential) or Section J analysis (commercial)
- ESD mark-ups on plans, showing initiatives and systems.
- RFI support: responses to council Requests for Information.
Our SDA Process:
1. Scope & brief
Confirm project type, council, and timelines.
2. Inputs check
Review drawings and data for completeness.
3. BESS & WSUD modelling
Assess the design and identify shortfalls.
4. Design advice
Recommend practical changes to boost scores.
5. Documentation
Prepare SDA, BESS certificate, WSUD results, and ESD plan mark-ups.
6. Lodgement support
Provide a clear, council-ready package.
7. Post-permit support
Assist with SMPs, RFIs, and condition sign-offs if required.
Contact Our SDA Consultants
Get in contact today and learn how we can help ensure you meet the SDA requirements for your local council.
Why Choose Green Choice Consulting?
It’s essential to engage an experienced and accredited assessor for your Sustainable Design Assessment (SDA). At Green Choice Consulting, our team of specialists brings extensive industry experience in both residential and commercial building developments.
We stay up to date with the latest sustainability standards, tools, and council requirements, ensuring your project meets regulatory expectations while maximising environmental performance.
By consulting with us early in the design process, we can identify potential design weaknesses, propose practical improvements, and help you achieve higher BESS scores, often resulting in cost savings and smoother council approvals.
Our collaborative approach ensures architects, builders, and developers receive clear, actionable advice without unnecessary delays or redesigns.
Key benefits of working with Green Choice Consulting:
- Accredited Experts – Our director holds accreditation with Design Matters National and is a Green Star member, with proven SDA experience.
- Council-Aligned Reports – All SDAPP categories addressed, with BESS, STORM, and WSUD fully integrated.
- Accurate & Reliable – Quality audits and robust processes ensure high-standard, council-ready documentation.
- Practical, Cost-Effective Solutions – Identify design constraints and achieve higher scores without unnecessary costs.
- End-to-End Service – From preliminary modelling and SDA reports to SMPs, NatHERS, Section J, and Green Star compliance.
- Australia-Wide Experience – we provide energy efficiency assessments for projects across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and beyond.
Ready to get started?
Contact Green Choice Consulting to book a consultation and take the first step towards achieving your Sustainable Design Assessment with confidence.
Contact Our SDA Consultants
Contact us today and learn how we can help ensure you meet the SDA requirements for your local council.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between an SDA and an SMP?
An SDA is for smaller developments (1–9 dwellings or small commercial projects), while larger, complex projects typically require a Sustainability Management Plan (SMP).
An SMP includes more detailed operational strategies, ongoing management plans, and often covers lifecycle performance.
Is BESS the same as an SDA?
No. BESS (Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard) is the tool used to assess sustainability performance, while the SDA is the full report prepared for council.
The SDA includes the BESS certificate, STORM report (or BlueFactor), ESD mark-ups, and supporting documentation to demonstrate compliance.
What BESS score do I need to pass?
You must achieve a minimum of 50% overall, meeting mandatory thresholds in key categories such as Energy, Water, Stormwater, and Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ).
Do all councils require a BESS assessment?
Most Victorian councils do, but requirements vary. Some councils accept equivalent sustainability scorecards or have additional templates. We tailor your SDA to align with the specific expectations of your council.
Do I need a stormwater report too?
Yes. Councils usually require evidence of stormwater compliance using STORM or BlueFactor, which we include as part of your SDA. Larger or more complex sites may require MUSIC modelling.
What happens if council issues a Request for Information (RFI)?
We handle RFI responses as part of our service. Our team can adjust models, update documentation, or provide additional advice to ensure your project meets the council’s requirements.
When should I start the SDA process?
As early as possible – ideally before lodgement. Early engagement allows sustainable design measures to be integrated into your development without costly redesigns or delays.
Can you help if I don’t have all the required information?
Yes. We can prepare missing documentation, including:
- BESS assessments and certificates
- STORM/BlueFactor or MUSIC stormwater calculations
- Preliminary thermal modelling for energy performance (residential) or Section J reports (commercial)
What if my design doesn’t meet minimum BESS thresholds?
Our assessors provide clear, practical advice to bring your project into compliance. This may include design modifications, alternative materials, or operational strategies to improve energy, water, or IEQ outcomes.
How long does an SDA take to prepare?
Most SDA reports are completed in 1–2 weeks, depending on the complexity of the project and the completeness of the input data.
Are SDA recommendations mandatory?
While councils require SDA submissions with planning applications, they generally accept recommendations if they demonstrate compliance with ESD objectives. Our goal is to provide practical, implementable measures that meet council expectations while remaining cost-effective.
Can SDA be used for both planning approval and construction compliance?
Yes. SDA demonstrates that the proposed design meets sustainability requirements during planning and provides guidance for ongoing construction and operational compliance.
Do you provide post-approval support?
Yes. We can assist with:
- Responding to council RFIs
- Supporting condition sign-off
- Prepare additional documentation for larger developments
Can SDA help with Green Star or other environmental certifications?
Absolutely. An SDA aligns closely with Green Star principles, and our team can advise on Green Star, NatHERS ratings, or other sustainability rating schemes to help you achieve higher environmental performance.
Do you provide advice for residential and commercial projects?
Yes. Our SDA services cover residential and commercial/industrial projects, with tailored recommendations for each development type.
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