Arun Thaneja, Technical Services and Sustainability Director at Winvic Construction
The launch of BREEAM 7 marks a shift in how sustainability is approached across the construction industry. Sustainability has long shaped our delivery approach, and BREEAM 7 places greater emphasis on earlier decision-making, collaboration and accountability, requiring these principles to be embedded well before the stage at which contractors are traditionally involved in the project lifecycle. Version 7 places greater emphasis on waste reduction, whole-life carbon and operational efficiency. Compared with Version 6, increased weightings reflect the urgency of these impacts, with the most significant change being when and how credits must now be achieved.
The importance of early engagement
Under Version 7, sustainability can no longer be layered into a scheme as it develops, it must be embedded from the outset. Works undertaken at planning submission are tied to the targeted BREEAM rating, making early-stage alignment essential. For example, MAT 01 Building Life Cycle Assessment credits are linked to planning submission and required for Outstanding ratings, leaving little scope for later refinement.
Achieving an Outstanding rating now requires the first Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to be completed within 20 days of planning submission. Recognising the importance of this, Winvic has invested in dedicated in-house expertise to support clients in navigating LCA requirements and embedding carbon-informed decisions from the outset. Similarly, prerequisites such as pre-demolition audits or resource management plans must be addressed early, not retrospectively and these requirements change the sequencing of design and planning.
Sustainability certifications must begin at concept design to allow project teams to optimise building orientation, massing, material choices and servicing strategies. From Winvic’s experience, early engagement enables these credits to be successfully achieved, whereas late involvement can significantly limit opportunities, particularly those linked to planning strategies, transport connectivity, ecological enhancement and land use.
For developers and funds, this earlier engagement reduces risk and enables more realistic sustainability commitments at planning stage, minimising the likelihood of costly redesign or compromised performance later in the process. Variations present another challenge and while shell and core developments are often registered for BREEAM, later-stage changes such as tenant-driven CAT B enhancements can impact the overall performance of the building. Without a clear framework for managing these changes, there is an increased risk of non-compliance or reduced ratings.
BREEAM has evolved beyond compliance to become a key design driver, informing our approach to climate-responsive design, material selection and the delivery of spaces that support long-term wellbeing, resilience and environmental outcomes, and we have aligned this with our wider business transition towards a low-carbon built environment.
The role of early contractor involvement
This shift reinforces the importance of having early contractor involvement, to bring critical insight into buildability, sequencing, procurement and supply chain capability that directly influences the feasibility of sustainability targets.
Under BREEAM 7, many credits depend on decisions that sit at the intersection of design and construction. There is a risk that design ambitions will not translate into deliverables. Early engagement allows contractors to advise on practical strategies for reducing waste, selecting low-carbon materials and coordinating logistics to minimise environmental impact.
Contractors bring best practice, lessons learnt and innovation opportunities that might otherwise be overlooked. Through value engineering and optioneering, modern methods of construction, offsite fabrication and alternative energy solutions can be implemented to optimise sustainability outcomes.
Bridging the compliance gap
The consequences of late-stage changes extend beyond individual credits and increase the likelihood of compliance gaps where projects fall short of required standards due to misaligned decisions or a lack of evidence. BREEAM 7 makes these risks more visible by linking credits to defined milestones and deliverables, reinforcing the need for early and continuous collaboration.
The value of collaborative planning
Pre-construction workshops and integrated project teams are now more important than ever – bringing together clients, architects, consultants, MEP engineers, contractors and third-party supply chain partners can enable a shared understanding of project goals and constraints.
This collaborative approach delivers multiple benefits and reduces the need for redesign, avoiding associated costs and programme delays. Integrated teams are better equipped to align programme strategies with sustainability objectives. For example, waste management targets can be embedded into construction sequencing, while procurement strategies can prioritise low-impact materials and local suppliers.
Rethinking delivery models
Traditional procurement and delivery models are increasingly challenged by the requirements of BREEAM 7. Sequential approaches, where design is completed before contractor involvement, limit opportunities for optimisation and increase the risk of misalignment.
The industry must move towards more integrated models that facilitate early engagement and shared responsibility, and this includes adopting procurement strategies that incentivise collaboration and align commercial objectives with sustainability outcomes.
Equally important is the need for greater awareness at site level. The actions of site teams, such as waste segregation, energy use and material handling, directly impact the ability to achieve BREEAM rating targets. Training and communication are critical for this as many teams have been working to the same methodologies since 2018 and the changes in version 7 are not yet widely understood.
One notable example is the requirement to eliminate fossil fuel combustion on site while the building is in operation – despite this, late variations often introduce gas connections at the boundary of a plot or building, undermining sustainability objectives, so addressing these issues requires both early planning and ongoing vigilance.
Next steps
To safeguard BREEAM ratings under version 7, several steps need to be taken:
- Define clear sustainability targets prior to planning submissions, aligned with project objectives and planning requirements
- Engage contractors and key supply chain partners early
- Incorporate BREEAM requirements into project governance
- Align programme timelines with certification milestones
- Invest in training to ensure all stakeholders understand their role in achieving sustainability outcomes
By embedding these principles from the outset, developers can reduce risk, enhance performance and deliver projects that meet both regulatory and market expectations.
BREEAM version 7 is reshaping the way buildings are designed and delivered and this demands a more integrated, collaborative approach, one that recognises sustainability as a shared responsibility.