BREEAM V7: What You Need To Know

BREEAM v7 is applicable from 27/01/26 and helps to embed current sustainability practices. Registrations for the current version close on 26.01.26, locking schemes in to v.6.1.

There are several changes that developers and designers will need to consider, these include:

• Mixed-Use Flexibility
Assessments now have more flexibility and can include up to 5 different uses within a single New Construction assessment. This saves costs and helps the design team by streamlining evidence requirements.

• Change in weighting and credits
A notable change in weighting has been a reduction in the land and ecology category. The difference has been made up across all the other categories.
There has been a 30% increase in the number of energy credits highlighting where the BRE consider effort should be placed.

• Introduction of new mandatory requirements for higher ratings
There are several new minimum requirements such as :
o Whole-Life Carbon (Mat 01): LCA and embodied carbon reporting required for ‘Excellent’ and ‘Outstanding’.
o Operational Energy (Ene 01 / Ene 02): New requirements for both the energy performance (Ene 01) & operational energy performance (Ene 02) credits for ‘Outstanding’.
o No On-Site Fossil Fuel combustion: Required for ‘Outstanding’.
o Indoor Air Quality & Daylight: Tougher standards for Hea 01 and Hea 04.
o Refrigerants (Pol 01): All refrigerants must have zero ODP.

• Change in achievable ratings
BRE have confirmed with the release that shell only projects can no longer achieve ‘Outstanding’.

• Advise for developers
V7 will heighten the challenge to meet higher ratings. We encourage engaging with consultants early so we can ensure targets are met.