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BREEAM is our main standard for sustainable non-residential buildings and residential extra care.

First published:
4 November 2019
Last updated:

BREEAM assesses the environmental performance of new and existing buildings.

The types of buildings we require BREEAM ratings for:

  • buildings we directly fund
  • buildings funded by 1 of our capital programmes, such as affordable housing, schools and further and higher education
  • buildings constructed under 1 of our funding schemes or programmes 
  • buildings on developments where we enter into a joint venture agreement with partners or developers
  • buildings on land for sale, or lease or to be disposed of for development by us
  • buildings on land we improve or reclaim or through sponsored body funding that is still subject to financial clawback

The following are exempt from BREEAM assessment:

  • all buildings with a floor space of 250m2 and under
  • all extensions, alterations, refurbishments and change of use of existing buildings
  • where Welsh Government provides less than £1,000,000 of financial
  • where Welsh Government has provided a commercial loan
  • all Use Class B8 (storage & distribution) buildings
  • all non-residential agricultural buildings
  • all waste and energy buildings, such as waste transfer facilities and power generation stations
  • all ‘bare’ land sales (no development obligation) or sales for non-policy reasons

The following buildings over 250m2 need to evidence a 10% improvement in the Target Emission Rate (TER) for Part L of the Building Regulations:

  • where Welsh Government provides less than £1,000,000 of financial
  • where Welsh Government has provided a commercial loan

Visit BREEAM for advice on assessment.