BREEAM Pre-Assessment

De-risk your development and set a clear path to certification with a BREEAM Pre-Assessment. Delivered during early feasibility and design stages (RIBA 1-2), our surveyor-led pre-assessments evaluate credit potential, establish realistic target ratings and identify mandatory requirements long before construction begins.

By embedding sustainability strategy at the concept stage, we help developers and asset owners streamline planning approvals, optimise project budgets and avoid costly retrofits later in the build lifecycle.

Construction-BREEAM-Pre-Assessment

A BREEAM Pre-Assessment is an initial feasibility study and planning exercise carried out in a construction or refurbishment project to evaluate how the building can achieve its target BREEAM ( Building Research Establishment Environment Assessment Method) rating.

Key Purpose and Objectives

  1. Establish a Baseline Target: Based on early design proposals, we will identify the maximum available BREEAM rating (Pass, Good, Very Good, Excellent or Outstanding)

  2. Identify Credit Opportunities: We will review the standard BREEAM credit categories ( e.g. Energy, Health & Wellbeing, Materials, Ecology, Water, Waste, Transport, Management and Pollution) to determine which credits are easily achievable, which require extra effort or design changes and which are unfeasible.

  3. Inform Project Budget & Design: HollenPlus will highlight sustainability measures in the early stage, when design changes are cost-effective, preventing expensive retrofits later in the process.

  4. Planning Compliance: Many local planning authorities (LPAs) require a BREEAM Pre- Assessment as part of the planning submission to demonstrate a commitment to sustainability standards

De-Risk Your Path to BREEAM Certification

Achieving a high BREEAM rating shouldn’t come with unexpected costs or late-stage redesigns. A BREEAM pre-assessment with HollenPlus provides an early, strategic evaluation of your building project, establishing clear sustainability targets at RIBA Stage 1 and 2.

By evaluating credit feasibility upfront, we help design teams, developers and asset managers eliminate compliance bottlenecks, protect project timelines and optimise Capex across all BREEAM schemes, including New Construction, Refurbishment & Fit-Out and BREEAM In-Use.

Navigating BREEAM Version 7 (V7)

The introduction of BREEAM Version 7 places a much sharper focus on net-zero outcomes, data transparency and whole-life carbon. Navigating V7 requires early strategic planning during the pre-assessment stage to align design decisions with the updated standards:

  • Whole-Life & Embodied Carbon: Expanded reporting benchmarks that now account for structural materials as well as Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) assemblies.

  • Predictive Operational Energy: Greater emphasis on bridging the performance gap using predictive modelling metrics (aligned with CIBSE TM54 and NABERS UK methodologies)

  • Alignment with Sustainable Finance: Criteria updated to align more closely with European standards, EU Taxonomy reporting and UK net-zero targets.

HollenPlus ensures your project is future-proofed under the V7 framework from day one, avoiding late-stage redesigns to meet the elevated carbon benchmarks.

What is included in Our Pre-Assessment Service?

At HollenPlus, we deliver a comprehensive pre-assessment roadmap tailored to your assets goals:

  • Interactive Strategy Workshop: Collaborative sessions to review all 10 BREEAM categories

  • BREEAM Scorecard & Buffer Strategy: A detailed credit tracker mapping targeted scores (Pass, Good, Very Good, Excellent, Outstanding) with a built-in 5-10% contingency buffer to safeguard your rating

  • Mandatory Credit Gap Analysis: Early verification of non-negotiable prerequisites required for your desired rating.

  • Multi-Disciplinary Action Plan: Clear allocation of credit responsibilities across your consultant team to streamline evidence collection.

  • Design Evidence Checklist: A practical schedule outlining exact documentation required for RIBA Stage 3 and 4 submissions.

BREEAM Schemes We Cover

HollenPlus provides expert pre-assessment and sustainability advisory across the full range of BREEAM environmental assessment frameworks:

  • BREEAM UK New Construction: Strategic carbon, energy, and material guidance for commercial, residential, and industrial developments.

  • BREEAM Refurbishment & Fit-Out (RFO): Tailored sustainability strategies for commercial fit-outs and historic building modernisations.

  • BREEAM In-Use: Performance benchmarking for operational assets to drive continuous improvement and protect long-term asset value.

How Pre-Assessments Fit Into Your Project Timeline

Integrating HollenPlus into your early project workflow ensures seamless alignment with the RIBA Plan of Work:

  1. RIBA Stage 1 (Preparation & Brief): Initial feasibility review, defining project ambitions, and establishing early sustainability targets.

  2. RIBA Stage 2 (Concept Design): Formal BREEAM pre-assessment workshop, scorecard issuance, and team responsibility matrix setup.

  3. RIBA Stages 3–4 (Spatial & Technical Design): Evidence collection, design reviews, and formal BREEAM registration.

  4. RIBA Stages 5–6 (Construction & Handover): Site verification and final certification support.

Are you Ready to Map Out Your BREEAM Strategy with HollenPlus?

Whether you are targeting BREEAM Excellent for your new commercial development or optimising an existing portfolio, the HollenPlus teams brings precision, transparency and strategic insight to your project.

Contact HollenPlus today to speak with an accredited BREEAM Assessor and book your pre-assessment workshop.

contact@hollenplus.com

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Speak to a Partner today to enquire about a BREEAM Pre-Assessment…

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