Sustainable design
Introducing the Green Factor Tool. We’re partnering with City of Melbourne to introduce a trial of Green Factor, a green infrastructure assessment tool that is free to use and available for most development types and scales.
On the Green Factor Tool website, click ‘Start Assessing New Site’ button and it will take you to the ‘Locate your site page’ where you can select the City of Port Phillip from ‘Select a Local Government Area’ drop down list. From there you can click the ‘Start Assessment’ tab and begin your Green Factor Tool assessment.
Find more information in the Sustainable assessments section of this page, under the ESD Assessment Tools heading.
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 22.12 Stormwater Management (WSUD) and 22.13 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 sustainable assessments.
A Green Factor assessment should be submitted with all application types. Refer to the ESD Assessment Tools section below for more details.
Items in the table marked with an asterisk (*) indicate the SMA can be integral to the Sustainable Design Assessment (SDA) or Sustainable Management Plan (SMP), or a stand-alone document.
Residential development
Development type | ESD documentation | ESD assessment tool |
---|---|---|
Small residential below 50m² | None | None |
Extension over 50m² which is less than a 50% increase to dwelling size | SMA* Optional SDA | STORM |
Extension over 50m² which is more than a 50% increase to dwelling size | SMA* Optional SDA | STORM BESS |
2 to 9 dwellings | SMA* SDA | STORM BESS |
10+ dwellings | SMA* SMP | MUSIC BESS or Green Star |
Non-residential development
Development Type | ESD Documentation | ESD Assessment Tool |
---|---|---|
Small non-residential below 50m² | None | None |
Extensions and new buildings from 50m2 up to 1000m2 GFA | SMA* SDA | STORM or MUSIC BESS |
Extensions and new buildings over 1000m² GFA | SMA* SMP Green Travel Plan | BESS or Green Star STORM or MUSIC |
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.
Need help?
If you have any queries about or need assistance with sustainable design, please contact us:
Online: Online Services
Phone: 03 9209 6303
In person: visit the Planning and Building Counter at St Kilda Town Hall during opening hours Monday to Friday
Post: Statutory Planning, City of Port Phillip, Private Bag 3, St Kilda VIC 3182