Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment
Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment
What we do > Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard

The Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS) is the only dedicated tool in Victoria for assessing sustainable design at the planning permit stage. Built and maintained by local governments, for local governments, BESS is designed to assist development applicants and councils achieve sustainable design outcomes for the community.

BESS is owned by the Municipal Association of Victoria and was developed with support from the Victorian Government. It is now used by over 35 municipalities across the state.

BESS helps building professionals and developers demonstrate how a proposed development addresses sustainable design at the planning permit stage, saving time and effort for both planners and the development community.

BESS has both a Buildings and a Subdivisions module, allowing sustainability to be assessed at all scales, from the individual dwelling to mixed use buildings, to small- and large-scale subdivisions.  

  • BESS Buildings (launched 2015): Supports assessment of houses, townhouses, apartments, commercial, industrial, and mixed‑use developments. 
  • BESS Subdivisions (established 2025): Applies to residential subdivisions of all scales, guiding the creation of climate‑responsive, liveable communities. 

Access BESS at bess.net.au

Key features of BESS Buildings

  • Purpose-built for the planning permit stage
  • Assess any size or type of building(s) including mixed use
  • Facilitates a consistent framework and assessment of sustainability at the planning stage reflecting current best practice
  • Multiple options for demonstrating compliance – providing flexibility for the user while delivering sustainability outcomes
  • Location-neutral. Does not advantage or disadvantage a development based on location.
  • Standardised report streamlines the assessment process for Council staff
  • Aggregate data to track impact over time and for Council reporting
  • Online help and technical support available

Key features of BESS Subdivisions

  • Purpose-built for the planning permit stage
  • Supports subdivisions of all scales — from small 3‑lot projects to large 250+ lot master planned communities
  • Facilitates a consistent framework and assessment of sustainability at the planning stage 
  • Assesses resilient and sustainable subdivision design across seven categories
  • Available in beta, free for all Victorian councils until June 2026

 

How is BESS managed and governed? 

CASBE manages and operates BESS on behalf of its member councils, as part of our role in facilitating a more sustainable built environment for Victorian communities. CASBE staff are employed by the MAV.

BESS supports the Sustainable Buildings Framework and the Sustainable Subdivisions Framework. The continuous improvement of BESS is supported by working groups comprising of officers from BESS subscribing councils.

BESS is governed by the Sustainability Assessment in Planning (SAP) Governance Board, which is responsible for the strategic direction of BESS, including

  • setting, reviewing and updating sustainability performance objectives within the tool
  • responding to changes in Victorian and specific local planning provisions
  • overseeing enhancements (upgrades) and regular maintenance activities

For any questions relating to the governance or administration of BESS please contact us.

Become a BESS subscriber council 

A BESS subscription is open to any CASBE member council. Please view the BESS Prospectus here and contact us to inquire about a CASBE membership or BESS subscription for your council.