Exciting News!!
BREEAM New Construction Version 7 finally launched at the end of September 2025, which updates both the UK and International New Construction criteria and standards. This update has resulted in BREEAM UK and BREEAM International New Construction being more closely aligned than they ever have been, with many requirements and benchmark targets having been harmonised or made equivalent across the two schemes.
BREEAM v7 represents more than just a technical update – it is a clear signal of where the market is heading on net‑zero, resilience and nature‑positive design. Within this shift sit both powerful opportunities and real delivery challenges.
Opportunities
- Stronger link to net‑zero: Mandatory whole‑life carbon, expanded embodied‑carbon scope and predictive energy modelling make BREEAM evidence directly usable for net‑zero roadmaps and transition plans.
- Better ESG and finance alignment: Optional EU Taxonomy‑linked criteria and closer alignment with “zero‑emission building” concepts mean one evidence set can support certification, CSRD and green/transition finance.
- Performance‑driven design: Greater emphasis on Post Occupancy Evaluation, monitored energy/water and demand‑side response encourages designs that actually perform, not just pass compliance models.
- Nature‑positive credentials: Stronger biodiversity net gain and resilience criteria help position assets as nature‑positive and climate‑resilient, aligned with investor expectations on physical climate risk.
- Third‑party verification as assurance: Clearer requirements for independent verification of energy models and WLC assessments increase confidence in the numbers and support reuse of BREEAM outputs in audited ESG reporting.
Challenges
- Higher bar for “business as usual”: Standard good practice now earns fewer credits, so teams must go beyond typical specifications to secure higher ratings such as Excellent (≥70%) or Outstanding (≥85%).
- Rating boundary shifts: Lower ratings become slightly more accessible – for example, Pass reduces from 30% to 25%, and Good from 45% to 40% – while In‑Use “Acceptable” is phased out, simplifying the lower end of the scale.
- More complex modelling and data: Expanded WLC scopes (including MEP), predictive energy and tighter water/refrigerant criteria demand earlier, more integrated modelling and stronger data governance.
- Delivery risk on ecology and resilience: Achieving robust biodiversity net gain and climate‑resilience outcomes can be difficult on constrained or brownfield sites, especially where local policy is also tightening.
- Need for independent reviewers: Stricter definitions of “independent” third party mean internal peer review is often no longer sufficient, requiring separate organisations to check models and LCAs.
Finally, projects can still be registered under BREEAM Version 6 until January 27th 2026, giving ample time to get to grip with Version 7’s new and updated requirements. If you would like to explore, how BE Design can support you with delivering BREEAM, we would be delighted to arrange a meeting to discuss further.