BREEAM Version 7 launched in September 2025 and is now the mandatory standard for all new project registrations in the UK. It represents the most significant overhaul of the framework in years, with whole life carbon placed firmly at its centre.
The biggest change is to Mat 01, the embodied carbon and LCA criteria, which has been completely rewritten. Life cycle assessments are now a requirement at concept, technical and post-construction stages for any project targeting Excellent or Outstanding ratings, and credits are awarded at each stage independently. MEP systems (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) are also now included in the embodied carbon scope for the first time, closing a gap that previously allowed a significant portion of a building's carbon footprint to go unassessed.
On energy, V7 moves from theoretical design metrics to measured outcomes, with new credits for predicting and verifying operational carbon. Projects targeting Outstanding must now eliminate on-site fossil fuels entirely with no gas boilers and no exceptions.
Health and wellbeing requirements have been tightened, with a new Indoor Air Quality Plan required as a minimum for Very Good and above, and updated daylighting criteria. Ecology and biodiversity are now formally tied to UK Biodiversity Net Gain legislation.
For developers and asset managers working with green finance, V7 introduces EU Taxonomy alignment for buildings over 5,000m², streamlining the evidence needed for sustainable lending and ESG reporting.
Teams that left BREEAM to the end of technical design under V6 can no longer do so. Embodied carbon modelling must begin at concept stage. Construction Carbon works with project teams from RIBA Stage 1 to ensure LCA is embedded from the outset, and that BREEAM Excellent is achievable, not just aspirational.
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