BESS Assessments & Reports
BESS -- the Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard -- is the online tool used by many Victorian councils to assess a development's sustainability performance before a planning permit is issued.
What Is a BESS Report?
BESS is a free online scorecard tool, developed by the Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment (CASBE), used by most Victorian councils to score a development across categories including energy, water, stormwater, waste, transport, urban ecology, indoor environment quality and innovation. Councils typically require a minimum overall score -- often around 50% -- before a permit application will be considered complete.
The report is submitted alongside your planning application and needs to reflect exactly what's shown on your architectural drawings, so any changes made during design review need to be re-checked against the scorecard.
Who Needs a BESS Report?
- Multi-unit residential developments -- apartments, townhouse developments and larger subdivisions in Victoria
- Commercial developments -- subject to council ESD policy
- Mixed-use developments -- where council sustainability conditions apply to the whole site
- Any project where your Victorian council has listed BESS as a permit requirement
How We Deliver It
We work directly with your architect and design team to score your development against each BESS category, identify the fastest path to your council's minimum threshold, and prepare a submission-ready report with the supporting evidence assessors expect. Where your initial design falls short, we'll flag the lowest-cost changes -- often around energy efficiency or water fixtures -- that lift your score without a major redesign.
Because BESS scores are checked against your architectural drawings at multiple stages, we stay involved through design development, not just at the initial submission, so your score doesn't drift out of compliance as the design evolves.
Pricing
BESS pricing depends on development scale and category count. Get in touch for a same-day, no-obligation quote.
Get a Free Quote →Why Work With Thermal Nest
We're accredited to operate in every Australian state and territory, so whether your project is in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth or regional Australia, you get the same turnaround and the same standard of report. Across 500+ projects, every certificate and report we've issued has been accepted on first submission -- no rejections, no rounds of council back-and-forth eating into your build timeline.
We also work with your design team from early in the process rather than only stepping in once drawings are locked. Catching a compliance issue at concept stage costs a conversation; catching it after a DA is lodged costs a redesign. That's the gap we're built to close.
Frequently Asked Questions
What score do I need to pass BESS?
Most Victorian councils require a minimum overall score, commonly around 50%, though the exact threshold and category minimums vary by council. We'll confirm the target for your site.
Is BESS required outside Victoria?
BESS is a Victorian tool used by most councils across the state. Other states use different assessment types -- we'll confirm which applies if your project is interstate.
What happens if my design doesn't meet the BESS threshold?
We'll identify the most cost-effective changes -- often energy efficiency measures or water-saving fixtures -- needed to lift your score before you submit.
Does BESS need to be resubmitted if my design changes?
Yes -- your BESS report needs to reflect what's on your current architectural drawings, so material design changes should be re-checked against the scorecard.
Can you handle BESS and Sustainable Design Assessment together?
Yes, many Victorian projects need both. We can prepare them together so your evidence and assumptions stay consistent across both reports.
Ready to Get Started?
Same-day quotes, accredited assessors, no surprises. Tell us about your project and we'll get back to you within one business day.
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