Planning & ESD Performance
Sustainability Management Plans and Sustainable Design Assessments for planning-stage sustainability, ESD reporting and council approval pathways.
For architects, developers, planners and project teams coordinating sustainability commitments, design responses and local government documentation requirements.
Send Your Project DocumentsIn Brief
A Sustainability Management Plan, or SMP, and a Sustainable Design Assessment, or SDA, are planning-stage sustainability reports used to explain how a proposed development responds to environmentally sustainable design requirements.
These reports are commonly prepared for council planning pathways, particularly in Victoria. They may address energy efficiency, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, stormwater, transport, waste, materials, urban ecology and other sustainability considerations relevant to the proposed development.
An SDA is generally a more concise response suited to smaller or less complex projects, while an SMP usually provides a broader and more detailed strategy for larger developments. The report required depends on the council, project scale, building type and applicable planning controls.
An SDA commonly provides a concise sustainability response for smaller residential, mixed-use or non-residential planning applications.
An SMP provides a broader sustainability strategy covering areas such as energy, water, transport, materials, waste, stormwater and indoor environmental quality.
They help councils and design teams understand how sustainability has been integrated before later compliance and technical documentation are finalised.
PLANNING-STAGE SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability Management Plans and Sustainable Design Assessments are used to show how sustainability has been considered during the planning stage of a development. They help translate broad environmentally sustainable design expectations into a clear project-specific response.
Rather than acting as a single certificate or isolated compliance document, an SMP or SDA usually brings together the main sustainability measures proposed for the project. This may include passive design, energy efficiency, water efficiency, stormwater management, transport access, waste reduction, material selection, indoor environmental quality and construction-stage environmental management.
For many projects, the report sits early in the development process. It supports the planning application by giving council, planners, architects and project teams a structured way to understand the environmental response before the design moves into later technical documentation.
This is why SMPs and SDAs are best understood as part of a broader planning and building performance pathway. They connect early design decisions with later requirements such as BESS, NatHERS, Section J, JV3, Green Star, daylight modelling, thermal comfort modelling or operational energy expectations, depending on the project type and location.
SMPs and SDAs are usually prepared to support a planning permit pathway, helping demonstrate that the proposed development has considered relevant sustainability expectations.
The report explains the project’s environmentally sustainable design response across practical categories such as energy, water, materials, waste, transport and indoor comfort.
A well-prepared SMP or SDA helps link early sustainability intent with later compliance, modelling and building performance outcomes.
REPORT PATHWAYS
The difference between an SMP and an SDA usually comes down to the scale, complexity and planning expectations of the project. Both documents address environmentally sustainable design, but they are not always required at the same level of detail.
A Sustainable Design Assessment is generally used for smaller or more straightforward developments, while a Sustainability Management Plan is typically used for larger, more complex or higher-impact projects where council requires a more detailed sustainability response.
Sustainable Design Assessment
An SDA is usually a concise ESD report that summarises the main sustainability measures proposed for a smaller residential, mixed-use or non-residential development.
It may include project-specific responses to energy, water, indoor environmental quality, stormwater, transport, waste and materials, supported by relevant assessment tools where required.
Sustainability Management Plan
An SMP is generally a more detailed sustainability report that sets out a broader ESD strategy for larger or more complex developments.
It often provides a more comprehensive response across planning, design, construction and future operational considerations, with clearer commitments for how the project will meet sustainability expectations.
Council requirements vary, so the correct pathway should always be checked against the relevant planning controls, project scale and local ESD policy. In some cases, a BESS assessment or other supporting documentation may also be needed to support the SMP or SDA.
COUNCIL REQUIREMENTS
SMPs and SDAs are usually required when a council or planning authority needs a clear sustainability response as part of a planning permit application. They are most commonly associated with Victorian planning pathways, where local councils may require an ESD report before a project can progress through approval.
The exact requirement depends on the council, the site, the planning controls, the building type and the scale of the development. A smaller project may only need a concise Sustainable Design Assessment, while a larger or more complex proposal may require a more detailed Sustainability Management Plan.
As a general guide, SDAs are often associated with smaller multi-dwelling developments or small-to-medium non-residential projects. Some Victorian council pathways refer to SDA thresholds such as 3 to 9 dwellings or non-residential developments within a lower floor area range.
SMPs are generally used for larger developments, such as projects with 10 or more dwellings, larger non-residential floor areas, taller buildings or more complex planning and environmental performance expectations. Because thresholds vary between councils, the relevant planning requirements should always be checked for the specific site.
The number of dwellings, floor area, building height and overall project complexity can influence whether an SDA, SMP or supporting assessment is required.
Each council may apply its own ESD policy, checklist, assessment tool or documentation requirement, particularly within Victorian planning permit pathways.
A BESS assessment, STORM report, MUSIC modelling, NatHERS rating or other technical input may be needed to support the sustainability response.
VICTORIAN PLANNING CONTEXT
SMPs and SDAs are most commonly discussed in the context of Victorian planning permit applications, where many councils require projects to demonstrate how environmentally sustainable design has been considered before approval is granted.
These requirements are not always identical from one council to another. The type of sustainability report required may depend on the local ESD policy, the planning scheme, the number of dwellings, the building use, the floor area, the site conditions and whether other assessment tools are triggered.
For this reason, an SMP or SDA should not be treated as a generic template. It should respond to the actual planning pathway for the site and clearly explain how the proposed development addresses the sustainability expectations that are relevant to that project.
Victorian councils may use local ESD policies, planning scheme requirements or sustainability checklists to determine whether an SDA, SMP or other ESD report is needed.
Requirements may be influenced by project scale, such as dwelling numbers, commercial floor area, building height or the overall complexity of the proposed development.
In some cases, tools such as BESS, STORM, MUSIC, NatHERS, Section J or other project-specific modelling may support the sustainability response.
The earlier the relevant sustainability pathway is confirmed, the easier it is for architects, planners and project teams to integrate the required ESD measures into the design instead of treating them as late-stage documentation.
BESS AND ESD REPORTING
BESS, the Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard, is commonly used in Victorian planning pathways to help assess the sustainability performance of a proposed development. For many projects, a BESS assessment may support the preparation of an SMP or SDA.
However, BESS is not always the same thing as the SMP or SDA itself. A BESS report can provide structured performance inputs across categories such as energy, water, indoor environment quality, stormwater, transport, waste and urban ecology, while the SMP or SDA explains the broader sustainability response in a form that can be reviewed as part of the planning application.
In practice, the relationship between BESS, SMPs and SDAs depends on the council, project type and planning requirements. Some projects may require a BESS assessment only, while others may need BESS results incorporated into a Sustainable Design Assessment or a more detailed Sustainability Management Plan.
BESS assessment
BESS helps assess sustainability measures across defined categories and can provide useful evidence for the ESD response required by council.
SDA report
An SDA may use BESS outputs to explain the key sustainable design measures proposed for a smaller or less complex development.
SMP report
An SMP may incorporate BESS results alongside broader sustainability commitments, implementation measures and project-specific planning responses.
When BESS is required, it should be aligned with the written sustainability report rather than treated as a separate exercise. This helps the planning submission read as one clear environmental response, instead of a collection of disconnected technical outputs.
ESD ASSESSMENT CATEGORIES
SMPs and SDAs usually respond to a broad set of environmentally sustainable design categories. These categories help councils and design teams understand how the project addresses sustainability beyond one single measure, such as energy efficiency alone.
The exact categories may vary depending on the council, project type and assessment pathway, but most planning-stage ESD reports consider a combination of indoor environment quality, energy, water, stormwater, transport, waste, materials, urban ecology, innovation and construction-stage environmental management.
01
Considers daylight, ventilation, thermal comfort, air quality and the experience of people who will use the building.
02
Addresses passive design, efficient systems, building fabric, energy demand reduction and opportunities for renewable energy.
03
Reviews water-efficient fixtures, rainwater reuse, irrigation demand, landscape response and reduction of potable water use.
04
Considers runoff quality, site permeability, rainwater capture, detention, treatment measures and tools such as STORM or MUSIC where required.
05
Looks at material selection, durability, embodied impacts, responsible sourcing and the reduction of avoidable environmental harm.
06
Responds to walking, cycling, public transport access, bicycle parking, electric vehicle readiness and reduced car dependency where relevant.
07
Addresses construction waste, operational waste, recycling spaces, waste storage, collection access and practical waste reduction measures.
08
Considers landscaping, biodiversity, canopy cover, heat island response, habitat value and the relationship between the building and its site.
09
Allows the project to identify sustainability measures that go beyond standard expectations or respond to the site in a more specific way.
10
Covers construction-stage environmental controls, implementation responsibilities and how sustainability commitments will be carried through the project.
These categories help move the report beyond a narrow compliance checklist. They give the planning submission a broader sustainability structure, making it easier to understand how the building is expected to perform, operate and respond to its site over time.
BUILDING PERFORMANCE FOUNDATIONS
Energy, water and thermal performance are usually central to an SMP or SDA because they influence both planning-stage sustainability and the long-term operation of the building. These areas help show whether the design is reducing unnecessary demand before relying on later systems or offsets.
At planning stage, the report may describe how the project responds to orientation, shading, glazing, insulation, efficient services, renewable energy readiness, water-efficient fixtures, rainwater reuse and stormwater response. The level of detail depends on the project scale, council requirements and whether supporting assessments are needed.
For some projects, the SMP or SDA may also connect with later compliance or modelling pathways such as NatHERS, BASIX, Section J, JV3, thermal comfort modelling or operational energy analysis. This helps align early ESD intent with the technical performance expectations that may follow.
Energy efficiency
Energy measures may include passive design, building fabric, glazing performance, efficient lighting, efficient services, solar readiness and strategies that reduce ongoing operational energy use.
Water efficiency
Water measures may include efficient fixtures, rainwater tanks, irrigation reduction, landscape selection, stormwater treatment and reuse strategies that respond to both council requirements and site conditions.
Thermal performance
Thermal performance considers how the building responds to heat, cold, solar exposure, ventilation, insulation and occupant comfort, helping reduce reliance on mechanical heating and cooling over time.
Energy, water and thermal performance often become the bridge between early planning-stage ESD commitments and later technical pathways such as NatHERS, BASIX, Section J, JV3, BESS, thermal comfort modelling and operational energy reporting.
OCCUPANT EXPERIENCE
Indoor environmental quality is an important part of many SMP and SDA reports because sustainability is not only about reducing resource use. It also considers how the building will feel, function and support the people who occupy it.
At planning stage, indoor environmental quality may include daylight access, glare control, natural ventilation, air quality, acoustic comfort, thermal comfort and the relationship between the building envelope, internal spaces and external conditions.
For some projects, these considerations may later connect with more detailed modelling or rating pathways, such as daylight modelling, thermal comfort modelling, natural ventilation analysis, WELL rating pathways or broader occupant wellbeing and performance expectations.
Daylight and glare
Daylight and glare considerations help assess whether internal spaces receive useful natural light without creating excessive brightness, overheating or visual discomfort.
Ventilation and air quality
Ventilation and air quality measures may consider natural airflow, mechanical ventilation, fresh air provision, pollutant control and the way internal spaces are expected to be occupied.
Comfort and wellbeing
Occupant outcomes bring together comfort, daylight, air movement, thermal performance and acoustic quality, helping the sustainability response remain connected to how the building will actually be used.
Indoor environmental quality helps shift the sustainability conversation from compliance alone to lived performance. It asks whether the building is likely to be comfortable, usable and environmentally responsive for the people inside it.
SITE AND RESOURCE RESPONSE
SMPs and SDAs often look beyond energy and water to consider how a development responds to its site, its resource use and the way people will move to and from the building. These categories help make the sustainability response more complete and more connected to the daily operation of the project.
Transport, waste, materials and urban ecology measures may be simple or detailed depending on the scale of the development. At planning stage, the aim is usually to show that these issues have been considered early enough to influence the design, rather than being left as minor operational details.
These areas are especially important where a project is expected to demonstrate reduced car dependency, practical waste storage, responsible material choices, landscape response, biodiversity value, heat island reduction or better integration with the surrounding urban environment.
Transport
Transport measures may consider walking access, bicycle parking, public transport proximity, car parking demand, electric vehicle readiness and the project’s relationship to existing movement networks.
Waste
Waste measures may include construction waste reduction, operational waste storage, recycling access, collection arrangements and design decisions that make waste separation practical for future occupants.
Materials
Materials considerations may include durability, recycled content, responsible sourcing, embodied impacts, low-toxicity finishes and the reduction of unnecessary resource use through the design and construction process.
Urban ecology
Urban ecology measures may consider planting, canopy cover, biodiversity, permeable surfaces, habitat value, heat island response and the way the project contributes to the surrounding landscape.
These measures help councils and design teams see how the project responds to its wider setting. A strong SMP or SDA does not only describe building systems. It also considers access, material use, waste, landscape and the environmental quality of the site itself.
PROJECT INPUTS
The information needed for an SMP or SDA depends on the project scale, council requirements and the level of sustainability detail expected at planning stage. A smaller project may only need a concise sustainability response, while a larger development may require more detailed inputs across energy, water, stormwater, transport, waste, materials and management commitments.
In most cases, the report is prepared from architectural drawings, planning documentation, site information and proposed sustainability measures. Where assessment tools are required, additional inputs may be needed for BESS, STORM, MUSIC, NatHERS, Section J or other supporting pathways.
The clearer the design information is at the beginning, the easier it is to prepare an SMP or SDA that aligns with the planning application and avoids unnecessary revision later in the process.
Core project information
Supporting assessment information
SMPs and SDAs are easier to align with council expectations when the sustainability pathway is checked early. This allows the report to support the design process instead of becoming a late-stage planning response.
SCOPE AND PROGRAM
The cost and timing of an SMP or SDA depends on the project type, council requirements, level of detail required and whether supporting assessments are needed. A concise Sustainable Design Assessment for a smaller development will usually have a different scope to a detailed Sustainability Management Plan for a larger residential, mixed-use or commercial project.
Timing is also affected by the quality of the available design information. Clear architectural drawings, confirmed project details and early understanding of the council pathway usually make the reporting process more efficient. Incomplete drawings or unresolved design decisions can lead to additional coordination and revisions.
Where tools such as BESS, STORM, MUSIC, NatHERS, Section J or other modelling pathways are required, the overall scope may need to allow for additional assessment inputs as well as the written SMP or SDA report.
Project scale
The number of dwellings, floor area, building use and development complexity can affect how much sustainability documentation is required.
Council requirements
Some councils may require a concise SDA, while others may require a more detailed SMP, BESS assessment, stormwater input or additional supporting documentation.
Available information
Architectural drawings, site information, council correspondence and proposed sustainability measures help define the report efficiently and reduce avoidable back-and-forth.
Supporting assessments
If the project also needs BESS, STORM, MUSIC, NatHERS, Section J or modelling inputs, these should be allowed for in the project program.
The best time to confirm an SMP or SDA pathway is before the planning submission is finalised. Early review allows the required sustainability measures to be integrated into the design, rather than added after the project has already become difficult to adjust.
DESIGN TEAM COORDINATION
A well-prepared SMP or SDA does more than satisfy a planning requirement. It can help architects, planners, developers and consultants understand which sustainability measures need to be considered early, before the design becomes difficult to adjust.
At planning stage, many sustainability decisions are still connected to the form of the building, the site layout, the façade, the landscape response, the services strategy and the way people will use the development. An SMP or SDA helps bring these decisions into one clear sustainability narrative.
This can make the planning submission easier to understand and easier to coordinate. It also helps reduce the risk that ESD requirements are discovered too late, when design changes may be more expensive, slower or harder to integrate.
Architects
SMPs and SDAs can help identify design measures that affect orientation, glazing, shading, ventilation, landscape, materials and the overall environmental response of the building.
Planners
The report helps connect the project with relevant council ESD requirements, planning controls, sustainability categories and supporting assessment tools where they apply.
Developers
Early sustainability advice can help clarify whether the project needs an SDA, SMP, BESS assessment or additional inputs, reducing uncertainty around planning documentation.
Consultants
Where supporting assessments are required, the SMP or SDA can help coordinate inputs such as BESS, STORM, MUSIC, NatHERS, Section J, JV3 or thermal comfort modelling.
When the sustainability pathway is understood early, design teams can respond with more confidence. The SMP or SDA becomes part of the project’s planning logic, rather than a separate report prepared after the main design decisions have already been made.
FUTURE PERFORMANCE DIRECTION
SMPs and SDAs are prepared for planning-stage approval, but the decisions they describe can influence the building long after the planning permit has been issued. Early sustainability measures often shape the building envelope, services strategy, site response, water use, occupant comfort and future operational performance.
This matters because building performance expectations are becoming more connected. Planning-stage sustainability, energy efficiency, thermal comfort, electrification, operational energy, climate resilience and future reporting requirements are no longer completely separate conversations.
A strong SMP or SDA helps set the direction early. It does not replace later compliance or modelling work, but it can make those later pathways easier to align by establishing the sustainability logic of the project before the design is finalised.
Operational energy
Early design decisions around orientation, façade performance, efficient services and renewable energy readiness can influence how much energy the building is likely to use once occupied.
Comfort and resilience
Thermal comfort, shading, ventilation, landscape response and heat reduction measures can help the building remain more usable and responsive under changing climate conditions.
Electrification readiness
Some projects may need to consider how future energy systems, electric appliances, EV readiness, renewable energy and lower-emissions infrastructure can be supported by the design.
Asset performance
A planning-stage sustainability strategy can support a more coherent pathway toward future compliance, disclosure, tenant expectations, operational performance and building quality.
The strongest SMPs and SDAs do not treat sustainability as a late planning requirement. They help establish a direction that can continue through design development, compliance, construction and the long-term performance of the building.
Frequently Asked Questions
An SMP (Sustainability Management Plan) is an ESD planning report that outlines how a development addresses environmental performance requirements including energy, water, indoor environmental quality, stormwater, waste, transport and materials across design and construction stages.
An SDA (Sustainable Design Assessment) is a streamlined ESD report used for smaller or less complex developments. It summarises key sustainability measures at planning stage including energy, water, indoor environmental quality and stormwater.
An SDA is generally used for smaller or lower complexity developments, while an SMP is used for larger or more complex projects requiring a more detailed sustainability strategy and coordination across disciplines.
An SMP is typically required for larger or more complex developments where councils request a detailed sustainability response at planning stage. Triggers may include project scale, use, height, floor area or local ESD policy requirements.
An SDA is commonly required for smaller developments where councils still expect a clear sustainability response, but a full SMP is not necessary due to scale or complexity.
SMP and SDA terminology is most commonly used in Victoria, however other states may use different ESD reporting frameworks or naming conventions depending on local council requirements.
An SMP or SDA outlines the development and its sustainability response across key areas including energy efficiency, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, stormwater, waste, materials, transport and construction-stage management.
Architectural drawings, site information, planning requirements and proposed sustainability measures are typically required. Depending on the project, inputs may also include BESS, STORM, MUSIC, NatHERS or Section J data.
Costs depend on project scale, complexity and council requirements. An SDA is typically lower scope, while an SMP involves more detailed coordination and documentation.
Timeframes depend on project size, documentation quality and council requirements. Early alignment of the sustainability pathway generally improves delivery speed and reduces redesign iterations.
An SMP or SDA supports planning applications by documenting how sustainability requirements are addressed. It assists assessment but does not guarantee approval.
RELATED KNOWLEDGE REFERENCES
SMPs and SDAs sit early in the planning and design process, but they often connect with other building performance, sustainability and compliance pathways. The relevant pathway depends on the project type, location, council requirements and the level of technical assessment needed.
These related knowledge areas can help clarify how planning-stage ESD reporting connects with later assessment, modelling, certification and operational performance expectations.
Planning and ESD tools
BESS is often used in Victorian planning pathways to support sustainability reporting for residential, mixed-use and non-residential developments.
Read the BESS Knowledge HubCommercial compliance
Section J sets out energy efficiency requirements for many commercial buildings and may become relevant after the planning-stage sustainability pathway.
Read the Section J Knowledge HubPerformance solution pathway
JV3 modelling can provide a performance solution pathway for commercial energy efficiency compliance where a Deemed-to-Satisfy approach may not suit the design.
Read the JV3 Knowledge HubResidential planning
BASIX is a key residential sustainability pathway in New South Wales, addressing water, thermal comfort and energy requirements for many residential projects.
Read the BASIX Knowledge HubResidential performance
NatHERS ratings assess the thermal performance of residential dwellings and may support broader sustainability and energy performance pathways.
Read the NatHERS Knowledge HubRating frameworks
Green Star may be relevant for projects seeking broader sustainability recognition across design, construction, operation or precinct-scale outcomes.
Read the Green Star Knowledge HubDaylight and comfort
Daylight modelling helps assess natural light, glare, visual comfort and internal environmental quality in residential, commercial and mixed-use buildings.
Read the Daylight Modelling Knowledge HubOccupant comfort
Thermal comfort modelling can help understand how internal spaces are likely to perform under different environmental, design and occupancy conditions.
Read about Thermal Comfort ModellingHealth and wellbeing
WELL rating pathways consider how buildings support human health, comfort and wellbeing through indoor environmental quality, design and operational measures.
Read the WELL Knowledge HubProject Review
Send the available plans, planning requirements, council correspondence and sustainability brief for an initial review. Certified Energy can help determine whether the project requires a Sustainability Design Assessment, Sustainability Management Plan, BESS assessment or another planning-stage ESD response.
Early review can also identify whether stormwater, WSUD, energy, water, materials or broader building performance considerations need to be coordinated with the architectural and planning documentation.
Last reviewed: June 2026. This page is maintained by Certified Energy as part of its Commercial Performance Knowledge Hub.
