Introducing Green Factor! Demonstrate the green infrastructure credentials of your proposed development using the free online Green Factor tool

Available for all planning applicants in the City of Port Phillip to use. Green Factor can create a site-specific assessment for submission with your planning application. Submitting a Green Factor assessment will also earn you credit under the Innovation category of BESS. 

See details of Green Factor and BESS in the “Sustainable Assessments” section of this webpage. Contact sustainabledesign@portphillip.vic.gov.au for more information.

New 7 star energy efficiency building standards. Energy ratings for dwellings are required to achieve a minimum 7 star rating (NatHERS) as of May 2024. This requirement is being introduced across Victoria as the National Construction Code 2022 (NCC) takes full effect.

Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) and Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) are essential design components for all types of development, regardless of scale. The City of Port Phillip implements Sustainable Design Assessment in the Planning Process (SDAPP) to secure good sustainable design outcomes for all new development. More detail is available in Council’s Sustainable Design Strategy (PDF 23 MB).

When applying for a planning permit, applications must incorporate ESD information and a Stormwater Management Assessment (SMA), under the Port Phillip Planning Scheme Clauses 19.03-3L Stormwater management (water sensitive urban design) and 15.01-2L-02 Environmentally Sustainable Development.

Port Phillip is currently part of a council collaboration to seek authorisation to elevate the ESD Local Policy targets, to ensure resilience of our built environment in mitigating climate change. You can learn more about this new policy amendment here

What to submit

Your application submission will include the required ESD report, ESD Tool Assessment report and plans showing the ESD features.

The information submitted will depend on the size of your proposed development. Details can be found in the table below.

More information on each report and tool can be found under the sustainable assessments section below. Items in the table marked with an asterisk 9*) are optional. 

 

Residential development

Development typeESD documentationESD assessment tool
Small residential below 50m²NoneNone
Extension over 50m² which is less than a 50% increase to dwelling sizeWSUD Response
Optional SDA*

STORM
Green Factor*

Extension over 50m² which is more than a 50% increase to dwelling sizeWSUD Response
Optional SDA*

STORM
BESS
Green Factor*

Single dwelling

WSUD Response
Optional SDA*

STORM
BESS
Green Factor*
2 to 9 dwellings

WSUD Response
SDA

STORM
BESS
Green Factor*
10+ dwellingsWSUD Response
SMP
MUSIC
BESS or Green Star
Green Factor*

Non-residential development

Development TypeESD DocumentationESD Assessment Tool
Small non-residential below 50m²NoneNone
Extensions and new buildings from 50m2 up to 1000m2 GFAWSUD Response
SDA
STORM or MUSIC
BESS
Green Factor*
Extensions and new buildings over 1000m² GFAWSUD Response
SMP
Green Travel Plan
BESS or Green Star
STORM or MUSIC
Green Factor*

Please note: Green Factor is optional for all development types. Submission of a Green Factor assessment earns a credit for the Innovation category in BESS.

Sustainable assessments

The 10 sustainable building categories

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD)

Sustainable Design in Fishermans Bend

Design and Development Awards

The City of Port Phillip Design and Development Awards has encouraged and celebrated design excellence in urban design, architecture, heritage, public space, sustainability, interior architecture and urban art in the City of Port Phillip since 1998.

Contact us

Our Planning team is here to help.

Send us a message on My Port Phillip.

Phone: 03 9209 6424.

In person: visit the Planning and Building Counter at St Kilda Town Hall during opening hours (8.30 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday).

Post: Statutory Planning, City of Port Phillip, Private Bag 3, St Kilda VIC 3182