# BESS-9 Tool Notes
Welcome to BESS, a sustainable design assessment tool for buildings at the planning permit stage.
BESS is managed by the Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment (CASBE) on behalf of our member councils (opens new window).
In many Victorian councils, planning permit applicants are asked to submit information about how the proposed development addresses sustainability, either as:
- a Sustainable Design Assessment (SDA), for small scale developments, or
- a Sustainability Management Plan (SMP), for large scale developments
A BESS report can be used to support these submissions.
Our Sustainable Design in Planning Fact Sheet (opens new window) provides more information about how sustainability assessment works within the statutory planning process.
The triggers and the definition of small and large scale is set by individual councils based on local development context. Check your relevant council's website.