By Sarah George
Copyright edie
BREEAM New Construction Version 7, like previous versions, requires projects to provide evidence across three key pillars: environmental, economic and social impact.
Topics covered in the environmental section include energy efficiency, water consumption, waste management and the overall impact of the construction process and building on the environment.
The BRE has updated metrics on whole-life carbon assessments, biodiversity data, sustainable building materials and climate resilience in Version 7.
These additions account for changing demands from investors, tenants and other key stakeholders, as well as updated regulations across the world impacting built environment businesses.
Projects can use BREEAM New Construction Version 7 to ease their alignment with the EU Taxonomy criteria and the EU Zero Energy Building definition, for example.
Customers can align with EU Taxonomy criteria and the EU Zero Energy Building definition in BREEAM NC V7, ensuring that any BREEAM-certified buildings can meet or exceed European regulations.
The BRE’s head of BREEAM Development, Tom Wilson, said the update “comes at a time when sustainability is no longer just about compliance, but about the need to protect and enhance long-term portfolio value too”.
He elaborated: “We understand how important it is that building and sustainability professionals can demonstrate their portfolios are resilient against climate risks both now and in the future. NC V7 helps them do exactly this.”
Updated BREEAM standards for refurbishment and fit-out projects will be launched in early 2026. An update for in-use projects will follow thereafter.
Editor’s note: The BRE’s head of responsible business, Kaie Small-Warner, recently appeared on the edie podcast to share her key takeaways from World Green Building Week 2025. Click here to stream the episode.
Join edie’s upcoming webinar on decarbonising buildings
Readers tasked with reducing the operational and/or embodied emissions of buildings are encouraged to join an upcoming free webinar providing guidance, hosted by edie in partnership with Mitsubishi Electric.
Taking place on 23 October 2025 from 1pm British Summer Time (BST), this 45-minute session is free to join.
Expert speakers will highlight key findings from Mitsubishi Electric’s recent research on how businesses of all sizes and sectors can reduce emissions from their buildings in line with long-term climate targets, while maintaining a commercial edge.
