Development of a planning and design tool for assessing the sustainability of precincts

The paper discusses the need for a tool for the planning and design of precincts to improve sustainability and reduce environmental impacts of a development. Research work on the tool has involved the investigation of the principles that might underpin such a tool and the physical measures such as green technologies and systems that might be within the scope of the tool. Further research has been undertaken to examine the range of tools available for planning and design and how such a tool planning and design tool may nest with the planning and design process. Research is underway to test this tool through a number of pilot projects. Work reported here discusses some of the initial findings from this research and provides a discussion of future directions.