Skip to content

BREEAM New Construction v7 – What You Need to Know

The Brookbanks Difference / News / BREEAM New Construction v7 – What You Need to Know

The Building Research Establishment (BRE) is preparing to launch BREEAM New Construction v7 in Summer 2025 — the most significant update in recent years. The changes strengthen the focus on whole-life carbon, resilience and operational performance, while better aligning with international sustainability frameworks.

For developers, planners and project teams, understanding these updates early will be critical to securing the right rating and avoiding rework.

Why the change?

BREEAM has long been the leading method for assessing building sustainability, influencing planning outcomes and investment decisions. With climate targets tightening and new demands for resilience, v7 aims to ensure projects deliver real performance — not just compliance — over their lifecycle.

Headline changes in BREEAM NC v7

  • “Simple Buildings” assessment type removed – all projects will now follow a full pathway.

  • Embodied carbon front and centre – Mat 01 weightings increased and applied more widely across schemes.

  • Predictive energy modelling required – new standards in Ene 01 & Ene 02 raise the bar for design-stage analysis.

  • Outstanding rating tougher – Shell-Only projects can no longer achieve Outstanding due to operational energy uncertainty.

  • Water use carries a carbon factor – linking water efficiency to whole-life carbon.

  • Revised weightings and rating boundaries – thresholds for Pass and Good lowered slightly; greater focus on energy and carbon performance.

What this means for your project

The changes will likely require more front-loaded planning. Early design decisions on structure, energy strategy and materials will be essential to meet higher credit thresholds. Coordination between architects, engineers, contractors and sustainability consultants will need to start earlier to avoid missed opportunities.

Our perspective

At Brookbanks, we see v7 as an opportunity to embed sustainability deeper into the development process. Our experience shows that early BREEAM AP involvement not only protects ratings but can also unlock cost savings, planning advantages and reputational benefits. As we are licensed by BRE to deliver BREEAM assessments and advice, we are perfectly placed to support your projects.

Meet our LDC Team

Dr Richard Boyle, Technical Director at Brookbanks
Technical Director, Land, Development and Communities Group

Dr Richard Boyle

Read Profile
Lee Witts, Group Director at Brookbanks
Group Director for Land, Development and Communities

Lee Witts

Read Profile
Mat Capper, Director of Utilities at Brookbanks
Director of Utilities

Mat Capper

Read Profile

More News

Back to News

Our April 2026 Newsletter

April 27, 2026

Welcome to our April 2026 newsletter. In this month's Brookbanks newsletter, learn more about how high-rise developments can be made more deliverable, with guidance on how you can reduce risk and protect viability. We're also looking back on our April webinar, where Annabel Le Lohe and Katherine Peers gave a rundown of Environmental Impact Assessments and how coordination can make a real impact on project delivery. Plus, there's a recap of this month's podcasts featuring two special guests. Paul Smith, Managing Director at The Strategic Land Group, and Tom Park, Associate Development Director at Caddick Developments. Also, find out which members of our team will be at UKREiiF as well as more about the CPD event we're co-hosting with the LPDF in May.

Read More
A picturesque sunset over the lush, green countryside of Deganwy, Wales, capturing nature's beauty.

Brookbanks Webinar: Comprehensive Coordination for Environmental Impact Assessments

April 23, 2026

In this webinar we explore how Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) can be better coordinated to support clearer, more robust planning decisions. Annabel Le Lohé and Katherine Peers set out how EIAs are intended to function, before focusing on the practical considerations that influence how effective an assessment is in practice, from early briefing decisions through to long‑term delivery. The session was aimed at those working across planning, development and technical disciplines who are involved in preparing, coordinating or contributing to EIAs, particularly on large and complex schemes.

Read More