BESS Assessments Victoria
Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS) Reports for Planning Approval
At Green Choice Consulting, we provide detailed BESS assessments and BESS reports for residential and mixed-use developments across Victoria.
The Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS) is a Victorian planning tool used by councils to assess the sustainability performance of proposed developments at the design stage.
A BESS report is commonly required as part of a Planning Permit application and is used to demonstrate that a development meets minimum environmental performance standards under the Victorian planning framework.
Our consultants work with builders, developers, architects, and building designers to deliver clear, compliant BESS assessments in Victoria, ensuring projects meet council expectations and support a smoother planning process.
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What is a BESS Assessment?
A BESS assessment (Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard) is a structured sustainability evaluation used in Victoria to measure the environmental performance of a proposed development or building design at the planning permit stage.
It is part of the Victorian planning system and is used by councils to assess whether a development is environmentally responsible, energy efficient, and aligned with sustainable design principles.
BESS is completed using a standardised online assessment platform and is recognised by participating Victorian councils as a consistent method of assessing environmentally sustainable design (ESD) outcomes during the planning process.
Unlike post-construction energy ratings, a BESS assessment is completed during the design and planning phase, meaning it directly influences building design outcomes such as materials, glazing, orientation, water systems, and landscaping.
The assessment produces a numerical score across multiple sustainability categories, which is then used by council planners to assess the sustainability performance of the proposed development. Categories assessed within the BESS tool include:
- energy efficiency,
- water use,
- stormwater management,
- indoor environmental quality, and
- material selection.
In practical terms, a BESS report answers a key planning question:
“Is this building designed in a way that minimises environmental impact while maintaining liveability and performance?”
Why Do You Need a BESS Report?
A BESS report is commonly required for planning approval in Victoria, particularly for developments involving multiple dwellings or significant residential construction.
Councils use the BESS assessment to ensure new developments meet sustainability expectations and contribute positively to long-term environmental performance.
You may need a BESS assessment if you are:
- Lodging a townhouse or multi-unit development application
- Developing apartment or mixed-use buildings
- Subdividing land for residential construction
- Undertaking medium to large-scale residential projects
- Seeking planning approval in councils with sustainability requirements
Without a compliant BESS report, your planning application may be delayed or require additional information before approval.
A professionally prepared BESS assessment helps to:
Streamline planning approval
Reduce redesign risk
Demonstrate sustainability compliance
Improve design outcomes early
Smoother council assessment processes
Contact our ESD Specialists
Get in contact today and learn how we can help ensure you meet your BESS requirements.
Victorian Councils & BESS Requirements
BESS requirements are widely adopted across many Victorian local councils, particularly in metropolitan Melbourne, where sustainability standards are embedded into planning schemes.
Councils that commonly require or assess BESS submissions include:
- City of Melbourne
- City of Yarra
- City of Port Phillip
- City of Stonnington
- City of Boroondara
- City of Darebin
- Merri-bek City Council
- City of Monash
- City of Whitehorse
- City of Bayside
- City of Kingston
- Wyndham City Council
While requirements vary slightly between councils, most will require:
- Achievement of the relevant BESS performance benchmark
- Evidence of sustainable design integration
- Submission alongside architectural drawings at planning stage
Some councils may also request supporting sustainability documentation such as:
- Sustainable Design Assessments (SDA)
- Sustainability Management Plan (SMP)
- Stormwater modelling (STORM or MUSIC)
- Energy or thermal performance reports (where relevant)
Understanding council-specific expectations is critical to achieving approval the first time.
Because of this variation, a tailored BESS report is often required rather than a generic template submission.
What Does a BESS Assessment Measure?
A BESS assessment evaluates a development across nine sustainability categories. Each category contributes to the overall score used by council to determine compliance.
1. Management
This category assesses how sustainability is embedded into the design and delivery process of a development. It considers whether sustainability objectives are clearly defined and whether the project team is actively coordinating environmental outcomes across disciplines.
Stronger performance in building management is achieved when sustainability is not treated as an add-on, but integrated into architectural, engineering, and materials decisions from the outset.
2. Energy Efficiency
The Energy category evaluates how efficiently a building uses energy over its lifecycle. This includes heating and cooling demand, insulation performance, glazing efficiency, and lighting systems.
Developments that incorporate passive design principles, high-performance building envelopes, and renewable energy systems such as solar PV typically achieve higher scores.
3. Water Efficiency
This category assesses how effectively a development reduces potable water consumption. It includes internal fixtures such as taps, toilets, and showers, as well as external water use such as irrigation and landscaping.
Rainwater harvesting and water reuse systems can significantly improve performance, particularly in larger residential developments.
4. Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ)
Indoor Environment Quality focuses on the health and comfort of building occupants. It assesses daylight access, ventilation, thermal comfort, air quality, and acoustic performance.
For residential developments, IEQ is particularly important because it directly impacts liveability, wellbeing, and long-term occupant satisfaction.
5. Stormwater Management
Stormwater performance evaluates how rainfall runoff is managed on-site. This includes filtration, detention, reuse, and discharge controls designed to reduce pollution and protect downstream waterways.
Well-designed stormwater systems also reduce pressure on council infrastructure during heavy rainfall events.
6. Transport
The Transport category assesses how easily occupants can access sustainable transport options. This includes proximity to public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure, and on-site bicycle storage provisions.
Developments near train stations, tram corridors, or major bus routes typically perform better in this category.
7. Waste Management
This evaluates both construction and operational waste management strategies.
During construction, it considers how materials are separated, recycled, or reused. During operation, it assesses waste storage design, access for collection, and long-term waste efficiency.
This category is often linked to broader sustainability targets and Green Star-aligned developments.
8. Urban Ecology
Urban Ecology assesses how the development contributes to local biodiversity and green infrastructure.
This includes landscaping quality, tree retention, habitat creation, and the integration of green spaces within urban environments.
In higher-density developments, this category is often achieved through thoughtful landscaping and green design integration.
9. Innovation (where applicable)
Innovation credits are awarded for sustainability measures that exceed standard BESS requirements.
This may include new building technologies, improved environmental performance strategies, or design approaches that demonstrate leadership in sustainability.
Innovation is often used to lift a project’s overall score when other categories are already optimised.
BESS Scores Explained
One of the most important outcomes of a BESS assessment is the final score, which provides an overall measure of a project’s sustainability performance and demonstrates how well it aligns with council sustainability objectives.
The BESS framework recognises three broad performance levels:
Below Best Practice (<50%)
Projects that achieve a score below 50% are considered to be below best practice. These developments generally do not meet the sustainability outcomes expected by councils and will often require design improvements before they can satisfy planning requirements.
Best Practice (50% and above)
A score of 50% or higher is recognised as Best Practice under the BESS framework. This indicates that the development has incorporated sustainable design principles across the assessed categories and meets the benchmark expected for environmentally responsible development.
Excellence (70% and above)
Projects achieving a score of 70% or higher are recognised as demonstrating Excellence. These developments significantly exceed the minimum best practice benchmark through higher-performing design solutions, stronger sustainability outcomes, and a more integrated approach to environmental performance.
What does your BESS score mean?
While the final score is an important indicator of overall sustainability performance, councils also assess how the project performs across the individual BESS categories. A higher score generally reflects:
- Better integration of sustainable design principles
- Improved energy and water efficiency
- Reduced environmental impact
- Stronger alignment with council sustainability objectives
- Greater confidence during the planning assessment process
This is why completing a BESS assessment early in the design phase is recommended. Identifying opportunities to improve the score before lodging a planning application is typically more straightforward and cost-effective than making changes after council review.
What is Included in a BESS Report?
Our BESS reports are fully compliant, council-ready documentation packages designed for seamless planning submission.
Each report includes:
- Full BESS scorecard submission
- Detailed sustainability modelling and calculations
- Category-by-category performance breakdown
- Compliance against relevant Victorian council requirements
- Recommendations to improve sustainability outcomes (if required)
- Revisions support following council feedback (where applicable)
The goal is to ensure your development meets requirements efficiently, without unnecessary redesign or delay.
Who Needs a BESS Assessment?
A BESS assessment is typically required for:
- townhouse developments
- apartment buildings
- multi-dwelling residential projects
- mixed-use developments
- larger residential subdivisions
- some commercial developments (council dependent)
Our consultants regularly assist:
- builders
- developers
- architects
- building designers
- town planners
- project managers
Our BESS Assessment Process
We follow a streamlined process designed to support fast approvals and clear communication with project teams.
1. Plan Review
We begin by reviewing your architectural drawings and project documentation to understand the scope and design intent.
2. Initial BESS Modelling
We complete a preliminary BESS assessment to establish your baseline sustainability score.
3. Optimisation
(If Required)
If your project doesn't meet required thresholds, we provide practical recommendations to improve performance without compromising design intent.
4. Final Report Preparation
We prepare your complete BESS report, ready for submission to council as part of your planning application.
5. Ongoing Support
If council requests amendments or clarification, we assist with updates to ensure your application progresses smoothly.
What You Need to Provide
To prepare a BESS assessment, we typically require:
- Architectural plans (PDF files preferred)
- Site plan and elevations
- Project summary (including GFAs, total site area and number and type of dwellings (if residential)
- Planning application stage information
- Supporting documentation, where relevant, such as NatHERS certificates, Sustainable Design Assessments or stormwater modelling.
- Any known council requirements or correspondence
Providing complete documentation upfront helps ensure faster turnaround times and more accurate assessments.
How Much Does a BESS Report Cost?
The cost of a BESS report in Victoria varies depending on the size and complexity of your development.
Pricing is influenced by:
- Number of dwellings or units
- Project scale and complexity
- Stage of design documentation
- Level of optimisation required
As a general guide:
- Small residential developments (2 to 9) dwellings) are typically $900 AUD
- Large apartment or mixed-use developments require tailored pricing, but can start from $1,500 AUD + GST
- Small commercial developments $700 AUD +GST
- Large commercial developments $1200 + GST
The indicative costs above cover the standalone BESS report only. They do not include Sustainable Design Assessment (SDA) or Sustainability Management Plan (SMP) consulting fees, or additional services such as daylight modelling, WSUD assessments, or energy modelling.
We provide fixed-fee quotes once we review your plans, ensuring clarity and no unexpected costs.
How Long Does a BESS Assessment Take?
- Small residential projects: 3 – 5 business days
- Larger developments: within 5 business days
Providing complete documentation upfront helps ensure faster turnaround.
Benefits of a BESS Assessment
A professionally prepared BESS assessment provides both compliance and strategic design benefits, including:
- Improved likelihood of planning approval
- Reduced risk of resubmission or delays
- Early identification of design inefficiencies
- Better environmental performance outcomes
- Stronger alignment with Victorian sustainability planning policies
- Cost-effective design optimisation opportunities
By addressing sustainability early in the design process, you can avoid costly changes later in development.
Related Sustainability Reports
- Sustainable Design Assessments (SDA)
- NatHERS certificates
- Stormwater modelling reports (STORM / MUSIC)
- Section J reports (for commercial or mixed-use elements)
- Green Star documentation for larger developments
Contact Our ESD Consultants
Get in contact today and learn how we can help ensure you meet the BESS requirements for your local council.
Why Choose Green Choice Consulting?
Green Choice Consulting works closely with design and construction professionals to deliver accurate, practical, and council-ready sustainability assessments.
We focus on:
- Fast turnaround times to keep projects moving
- Clear communication with design teams
- Practical, buildable sustainability recommendations
- Strong understanding of Victorian council requirements
- Reliable compliance documentation for planning submissions
Our goal is to make sustainability compliance straightforward, efficient, and aligned with your project timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a BESS assessment measure?
A BESS assessment measures a development’s sustainability performance across nine categories including energy, water, transport, stormwater, materials, and indoor environmental quality. These results form an overall sustainability score used for planning approval.
Who needs to complete a BESS assessment?
Developers, architects, builders, and planning consultants typically require a BESS assessment when lodging planning applications for residential or multi-unit developments in Victoria.
How does a BESS assessment benefit my project?
A BESS assessment improves your chances of planning approval, reduces delays, identifies cost-effective design improvements, and ensures compliance with Victorian sustainability requirements.
What information is needed for a BESS assessment?
You will typically need architectural plans, site details, material specifications, and development information. The more detailed the documentation, the more accurate and efficient the assessment.
Is a BESS report mandatory for all developments in Victoria?
A BESS report is not required for every single development in Victoria, but it is commonly mandatory for most residential multi-unit developments, townhouses, and medium-density projects requiring a planning permit. Many Victorian councils include BESS requirements within their planning schemes as part of sustainable design policy expectations. Even when not strictly mandatory, councils may still expect a BESS assessment to demonstrate environmental performance.
How long does a BESS assessment take?
The timeframe for a BESS assessment depends on the size and complexity of the development, as well as the completeness of the information provided. For most residential and townhouse projects, assessments are typically completed within a few business days. Larger or more complex developments may take longer, particularly if design refinements or revisions are required to achieve compliance.
Can a BESS score be improved after submission?
Yes. In many cases, a BESS score can be improved after initial assessment or even after council feedback, depending on the stage of the planning process. If the initial score does not meet council requirements, design adjustments can often be made to improve performance across categories such as energy efficiency, water use, or materials. Early-stage assessment is ideal, as it allows more flexibility for cost-effective improvements.
What is a good BESS score in Victoria?
A “good” BESS score typically refers to a result that meets or exceeds the minimum council requirements, which vary depending on the municipality and development type. Most councils require compliance with baseline sustainability targets across the nine categories. However, stronger-performing developments may aim for higher scores to demonstrate best-practice sustainability outcomes and reduce planning objections.
Do all Victorian councils require the same BESS standard?
No, BESS requirements are not identical across all Victorian councils. While the BESS framework is consistent, each council may apply slightly different expectations, thresholds, or emphasis on certain sustainability categories. Some councils are more stringent, particularly in inner metropolitan areas, while others apply more flexible benchmarks depending on development type and location.
Get a BESS Report for Your Project
If you’re preparing a development in Victoria and require a BESS assessment or BESS report, we can assist with fast, compliant documentation tailored to your project.
Upload your plans for a fast, fixed-fee BESS assessment and keep your planning application moving.