​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Sustainable New Communities Program (green development standards) encourages and evaluates the sustainability performance of new development. It is a critical tool to facilitate and accelerate the delivery of complete communities that address the global climate emergency, as well as long-term economic, environmental, and social benefits for Brampton. The program also aligns with the Region of Peel's Healthy Development Framework and associated Healthy Development Assessment.

The Sustainable New Communities Program is a point-based system in which development proposals earn points for achieving specific criteria (metrics) organized around the categories of Built Environment, Mobility, Natural Environment & Open Space, and Infrastructure & Buildings. Proposal are required to achieve a minimum score (within the Bronze threshold).

Launched in 2015, a comprehensive update to the Program was recently approved, and will apply to new planning applications submitted as of July 1, 2022.

The Sustainable New Communities Program is a collaboration between the Cities of Brampton, Markham, Richmond Hill, and Vaughan.

Applications Submitted as of July 1, 2022

Through the Sustainable New Community Program the City of Brampton is promoting a comprehensive approach to planning and designing sustainable communities.​ In spring 2022, Brampton City Council approved updates to the Program, which apply to planning applications submitted as of July 1, 2022

Please note, as of January 1, 2023 all applicable applications submitted on or after this date will be required to achieve a minimum 'Good' level for the Building Energy Efficiency, Greenhouse Gas Reduction, and Resilience metric (i.e., IB-12). This requirement is in addition to the minimum 'Bronze' score required through the program.​

Forms and Guidelines

Sustain​ability Assess​ment​​​​​ Tool

Process Overview

Item Status: Current

Applicants advised of Sustainable New Communities Program and associated minimum requirements, include minimum Bronze score and IB-12 metric.

Item Status: Future

Complete application will include Sustainability Score & Summary and Snapshot. Application to achieve at least a Bronze Score, and as of January 1, 2023, the “Good” level of building energy and GHG emissions performance of Metric IB-12. Staff assess plans/drawings and component studies in relation to the Sustainability Metrics and the Sustainability Score.

Item Status: Future

Staff review plans/drawings and component studies to verify Metrics achieved and Sustainability Score.

Item Status: Future

Staff report on application’s Preliminary Sustainability Score.

Item Status: Future

Staff report on application’s Final Sustainability Score. Include Plan of Subdivisions or Site Plan condition(s) as applicable.

Item Status: Future

Plans should demonstrate Sustainability Score is being achieved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants have a menu of sustainability metrics to choose from (see the Sustainable Ne​w Communities Program Guidebook​), each with an assigned point value. The combination of metrics the applicant selects to achieve in their development proposal results in a Sustainability Score.

There are three Sustainability Score Thresholds: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Applicants are required to achieve, at minimum, a Score that falls within the Bronze threshold.

As of January 1, 2023, development proposals will also have to illustrate a minimum level of building energy/G​HG performance as outlined in the "Good" level of metric IB-12.​​

  • Draft Plans of Subdivision of 9 residential unit​s or less
  • “Limited” or “Basic” Site Plans
  • Draft Plans of Subdivision for the purpose of subdividing large blocks of land for the sole purpose of creating lots for future employment, industrial, commercial, or institutional development, and which will require subsequent Site Plan approval.

  • Block Plans/Precinct Plans
  • Draft Plans of Subdivisions of 10 re​sidential units or more
  • "Full" Site Plans
  • Zoning By-law amendments to facilitate the above
  • For Zoning By-law amendments, the Sustainability Score is based on preliminary information available at this planning stage. The Score is then refined when more details become available as part of the Draft Plan of Subdivision or Site Plan application for the property.

Applicants are required to achieve, at minimum, a score that falls with​in the Bronze Threshold. The Sustainability Score Thresholds are as follows:

Site Plans

  • Bronze = 41-61
  • Silver = 62-75
  • Gold = 76+

Draft Plans

  • Bronze = 27-40
  • Silver = 41-49
  • Gold = 50+

Block Plans

  • Bronze = 14-20
  • Silver = 21-25
  • Gold = 26+

The development proposal submission must include the Sustainability Score amp; Summary created using the City's online Sustainability Assessment Tool, whereby the applicant details the metrics the proposal will achieve and where in the submission documentation (e.g. plans, studies, etc.) achievement of these metrics can be veri​fied, and the Sustainability Score reached.

Please refer to the Sustainable New Communities Program Guidebook for details regarding each metric, including the documentation requirements for each that must be included in the development application submission.​​​

​

Applicants must use the Sustainab​ility Assessment Tool to document the metrics achieved within their development proposal and to calculate the Sustainability Score.​

​

The primary changes to the Program include a revised suite of Sustainability Metrics, upda​ted Sustainability Score Thresholds, and the introduction of a mandatory building energy and GHG performance metric.

Applications Submitted Prior to July 1, 2022

  • All Block Plans
  • Plans of Subdivisions of 10 units or more
  • "Full" Site Plans
  • Zoning By-law amendments

For Zoning By-law (ZBA) amendments, the score will be based on​ preliminary information available at the ZBA stage. The score will then be refined when more details become available as part of the associated Plan of Subdivision and/or Site Plan applications.

Yes. All applications must achieve at minimum a Bronze score.

Sustainability Score Thresholds

Site Plan
  • Bron​ze = 35
  • Silver = 53
  • Gold = 70
Plan of Subdivision
  • Bronze = 29
  • Silver = 40
  • Gold = 51
Block Plan
  • Bronze = 30
  • Silver = 39
  • Gold = 49

  • Plans of Subdivision of 9 units or less
  • "Limited" and "Basic" Site Pl​ans

Sustainability Score

Use the Sustainability Assessment Tool (SAT) to generate the Sustainability Score.

The SAT uses a series of questions to quantify the sustainability attributes of a development application. The Sustainability Score calculated through this Tool must be submitted with your development application.

Sustainability Summary

In addition to the Sustainability Score, each application must include a Sustainability Summary, which outlines how the score was achieved and in which component study or drawing each point can be verified. The Sustainability Summary must be prepared in accordance with the Terms of Reference.

Some metrics require the submission of a Letter of Intent that must be submitted with your application. The Program Manual identifies which metrics require Letter of Intents, and templates for these​ letters are available.

Related Documents

Related Links and Forms

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