Nature Based Cities Extends Its Accreditation to Greenfield and Brownfield Precincts

Nature Based Cities (NBC) has broadened the scope of its accreditation program beyond apartments and medium density housing, introducing the New Communities Design Guidelines and Scorecard for developers working at precinct scale. The new framework provides a clear, independently audited pathway for greenfield and large brownfield communities that want nature positive outcomes embedded from the ground up.

The program builds on NBC's existing Medium and High Density residential guidelines, which launched in early 2025 and have already produced four accredited projects: Watts and Wright by Spyre Group, Cliff by Aria, and The Eveline by Hamton Property Group.

Paul Hameister OAM, who founded NBC, said the new guidelines were a direct response to demand from developers working at the outer suburban fringe and on large inner city sites who see nature and living landscape as core to what they are building.

How Accreditation Works

The scorecard evaluates projects across four key areas: ecology, tree canopy, biodiversity and walkability. Assessment is conducted independently, with the scorecard formalised at masterplan stage once a planning application has been lodged. Projects are awarded either Commended or Exemplary status depending on their performance against the criteria.

Before engaging with the third-party review process, development teams can run an initial self-assessment, typically led by their landscape or open space consultants, to identify where they stand and what adjustments may be needed.

Janis Fischer, a director at Tract and a member of the NBC Advisory Council, played a central role in building the framework. She said most developments were closer to Commended status than their teams realised.

"For many developments, achieving Commended accreditation will likely require only a few minor refinements. It means doing some things just a little better than in the past."

Janis Fischer, Director, Tract & NBC Advisory Council Member, speaking to The Urban Developer

Fischer noted the framework provides practical design guidance from the earliest stage of a project. "The guidelines and scorecard allow you to make informed planning decisions from the moment you acquire a site," she said. "They may also influence your decision-making when considering a site for a new community development."

The most common shortfall among projects assessed against the scorecard, Fischer said, was the absence of an ecologist at the outset.

Engaging one early gives developers the opportunity to design street networks and open spaces that protect existing vegetation, establish green corridors and achieve meaningful canopy cover.

Even on degraded or previously disturbed sites, an ecologist can shape design decisions to attract species displaced by prior land use. "We are just asking them to make sure they are thinking about nature alongside the other things you should be doing for sustainable development," Fischer said.

The Commercial Case

Independent research by Urbis provides quantitative backing for the nature positive argument across residential development.

Park-front apartments also recorded a 17 per cent premium over the same ten year period. The data underscores the commercial logic behind investing in nature positive design at the precinct level.

"Most developers are starting to use nature as part of their marketing, which means they know that it sells. We like to make sure that they are not just greenwashing and that they can back it up with results on the ground."

Janis Fischer, Director, Tract

NBC's accreditation is designed to ensure those claims can be independently verified, giving purchasers confidence that the nature represented in marketing materials will be delivered in the finished development. Accredited projects receive access to NBC branding and marketing tools, including the NBC accreditation mark.

Submissions are free through the NBC website at naturebasedcities.org.au.