BREEAM Version 7 is more than a routine update. It represents a step change towards net‑zero carbon, circular‑economy principles and climate‑resilient design. Every assessment category has been revised, category weightings have shifted and there are new minimum standards to align with both the EU taxonomy and net‑zero trajectories. BREEAM has continually evolved to address emerging environmental challenges in the built environment, and Version 7 is the latest step in this ongoing process. The range of BREEAM schemes, including New Construction and the forthcoming Fit Out scheme, play a crucial role in supporting sustainable building standards and harmonizing certification across the sector. Achieving BREEAM accreditation is essential for demonstrating compliance with sustainable building standards and improving the environmental performance of projects. There is a three month transition period for stakeholders to adapt to the new standards. In this guide you’ll learn what’s changed, why it matters and how to prepare your project.
If you’re new to BREEAM, start with our What is BREEAM? overview and How to get BREEAM certified guide. For support with choosing the right scheme or integrating assessments with wider sustainability goals, visit our BREEAM assessments and Whole‑Life Carbon Assessment pages.
BREEAM stands as the world's leading sustainability assessment method for buildings, offering you a practical framework that helps project teams deliver genuine environmental performance and cut greenhouse gas emissions where it matters most. The BREEAM New Construction Version 7 represents real progress in sustainable building practices, establishing benchmarks for energy efficiency and carbon reduction that work in the real world of construction and development. This new construction version brings you enhanced guidance, fresh credits, and minimum standards that support a complete approach to sustainable building tackling not just operational energy use but also embodied carbon and biodiversity net gain across your building's entire lifecycle. Through continuous evolution, BREEAM supports developers and project teams in reaching ambitious sustainability goals that make sense for their projects, ensuring that every new construction contributes meaningfully to environmental performance and the shift toward a low-carbon future that we're all working toward.
BREEAM Version 7 strengthens its focus on operational energy, embodied carbon, refrigerant emissions, and transport impacts across the entire lifecycle of a building. To reflect this ambition, the rating thresholds for ‘Excellent’ and ‘Outstanding’ have been raised. The new standards also put more weight on operational efficiency and real performance in use, particularly around energy and carbon outcomes.
For mixed-use developments, the process is now more streamlined. Instead of commissioning a full Bespoke assessment, you can register up to five different asset types within a single BREEAM assessment—reducing complexity and cost compared to managing separate certifications.
V7 introduces EU‑taxonomy‑aligned reporting outputs and removes some Excel calculators. This means your assessment data can feed more easily into corporate ESG reporting and whole‑life carbon accounting.
Below we summarise the key changes by category. Each update interlinks with other services we offer—such as SAP/SBEM energy modelling, dynamic thermal modelling (DTM), whole‑life carbon assessment (WLCA) and BREEAM In‑Use—so look out for the internal links.
V7 places occupants at the centre of design. Daylight analysis (Hea 01) must now use annual weather files, including glare and sunlight exposure for residential and healthcare uses. The new criteria for health and wellbeing include updated standards for daylighting, glare control, and occupant comfort. Glare control is emphasized in the new criteria in Version 7 as essential for reducing visual discomfort and improving occupant comfort. There is also an opportunity to achieve exemplary credits for advanced daylighting solutions or innovative design features that surpass standard requirements. Artificial lighting (Hea 02) requires zoning and advanced controls, while Hea 03 introduces a credit for lighting that supports circadian rhythms. Stricter limits on emissions from construction products remain and acoustic credits separate sound insulation from ambient noise. Together, these changes encourage designs that reduce operational carbon and improve health.
The energy category moves away from prescriptive demand metrics towards performance‑based outcomes. Ene 01 rewards projects based on predicted energy use intensity and carbon emissions. Ene 02 introduces credits for third‑party‑verified dynamic simulation models—for example, using tools like IES VE or TAS to predict operational energy and overheating risk. Ene 04 encourages low‑carbon design by optimising building form and integrating renewables, while Ene 07 recognises demand‑side response systems that shift loads to periods of low‑carbon grid electricity. Flexible demand response plays a key role in optimizing energy performance and supporting renewable energy integration within BREEAM's updated assessment criteria, further enhancing carbon performance. Projects with intelligent controls also benefit under Ene 08. By aligning your energy strategy with these credits, you also create a strong foundation for Net‑Zero Carbon and SAP /SBEM compliance—see our SAP vs SBEM vs dynamic thermal modelling comparison for more guidance.
V7 simplifies water credits. Wat 01 benchmarks are now based solely on installed components and explicitly recognise recycled water. Wat 05, a new issue, requires projects to predict operational water consumption and commit to monitoring—a step that helps manage both water use and associated embodied energy. Clarified methodologies for Wat 02–04 support more flexible design solutions.
The materials section in BREEAM V7 has been rewritten to place greater emphasis on the circular economy and embodied carbon. While Mat 01 does not universally mandate Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs), they become essential for projects targeting higher ratings such as Excellent and Outstanding. Credits are awarded for carrying out LCAs at the concept, technical design, and post-construction stages, with further recognition for submitting results to public databases.
Embodied carbon assessments are now a critical part of the design process, helping project teams meet evolving environmental standards and align with frameworks such as EN 15978 and BREEAM. These assessments play a central role in measuring and managing a building's carbon footprint, focusing on reducing emissions across the entire lifecycle. The methodology aligns with the RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment and supports circular-economy thinking.
By combining BREEAM’s LCA requirements with our Whole-Life Carbon Assessment service, project teams can satisfy both regulatory and voluntary standards in a single, integrated process.
Transport credits focus on robust travel planning and active travel infrastructure. Projects must provide active and passive electric‑vehicle charging infrastructure proportionate to the total number of parking spaces, complementing national decarbonisation strategies for transport.
Waste criteria have been updated to reflect climate resilience. Wst 05 requires design decisions to be informed by state‑of‑the‑art climate projections (e.g., flood risk, overheating) and align with EU taxonomy criteria. Addressing climate change is crucial, and Wst 05 emphasizes the need to design for risks such as extreme heat to ensure buildings remain resilient and adaptable. Wst 06 aligns with ISO 20887 on disassembly and adaptability, encouraging buildings that can be taken apart or repurposed in future. The updated waste and resilience criteria help address environmental challenges faced by the built environment by promoting sustainable, adaptable, and future-proof construction. Other waste credits remain largely unchanged but have clearer evidence requirements.
Land‑use credits align with ISO 18400 and England’s Biodiversity Net Gain legislation. A new methodology recognises sites with low or no existing biodiversity and encourages appropriate enhancements. Pollution criteria now make zero ozone‑depletion refrigerants a prerequisite and simplify NOₓ limits for appliances; there is also a new requirement for night‑time noise levels to be 5 dB below background.
BREEAM New Construction Version 7 brings substantial changes that we see as real opportunities for construction teams ready to embrace a more comprehensive approach to sustainable building. We're working with project teams who now need to understand their building's full lifecycle impact, helping them navigate the stronger focus on whole life carbon, embodied carbon, and operational energy performance that this version demands. This updated framework gives us practical ways to manage energy demand more effectively, reduce carbon emissions meaningfully, and minimize environmental impact at every development stage. The new criteria and enhanced credits offer developers concrete opportunities we can help them capture - demonstrating genuine leadership in greenhouse gas reduction while achieving better project outcomes. We're seeing construction teams integrate these enhanced measures into their processes, and we're here to guide that integration, driving projects toward more sustainable building results and stronger long-term asset value that benefits everyone involved.
BREEAM New Construction Version 7 emerged from a comprehensive consultation that brought together project teams, developers, and sustainability experts across the industry - and the results speak for themselves. This collaborative approach means the new version truly reflects what you're facing on the ground, addressing real challenges while supporting the shift toward more sustainable building practices that matter for today's projects. The feedback the BRE gathered during consultation directly informed the key updates and enhancements, making this version more relevant, practical, and effective for the work you're doing right now. By engaging with industry professionals throughout the process, BREEAM has delivered something that doesn't just set higher standards - it provides the tools and guidance you actually need to succeed with new construction projects, helping you navigate requirements while achieving better outcomes for your developments.
Transitioning to V7 isn’t just about ticking boxes; it involves rethinking your project from the ground up. Here’s how to respond:
Unsure how Version 7 will affect your project? We’ve developed a BREEAM V7 Scorecard—a 32‑question tool that provides a personalised risk assessment and action plan. By answering targeted questions about your design, you’ll see where you’re meeting the new requirements and where you may fall short. The resulting report will be emailed directly to you.
Take the BREEAM V7 Scorecard
Version 7 signals a shift from incremental improvements to a holistic, life‑cycle approach to sustainability. Meeting these new standards requires integrated design, cross‑disciplinary collaboration and up‑front modelling. By engaging a BREEAM assessor and sustainability consultant early, you can map your path to compliance, capture high‑value credits and align your project with net‑zero carbon and circular‑economy goals.
Need help? Our team at Darren Evans specialises in BREEAM, energy modelling, whole‑life carbon and net‑zero strategies. Contact us through our BREEAM assessments service or our Contact page to discuss your project. We’ll help you decide which BREEAM version applies, integrate LCAs and dynamic modelling into your programme and deliver the most sustainable outcome possible.
