BREEAM & Code for Sustainable Homes

The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methods (BREEAM and the Code for Sustainable Homes) are used to assess the environmental performance of new and existing buildings. Within the UK's construction and property sectors these methods are regarded as the measures of best practice in environmental design and management.

Baker Shepherd Gillespie has considerable experience in providing specialist ecological input for BREEAM and Code for Sustainable Homes assessments. We can carry out surveys and prepare reports that specifically meet the requirements of these assessments. BSG employs Suitably Qualified Ecologists to conduct this work, as defined within the assessment guidelines.

A number of credit points are available for various aspects of a development, such as energy and water use. The development is assessed against each category and an overall rating is awarded based on the total number of credit points achieved. Past experience has shown that some planning authorities require new developments to meet a minimum rating using these assessments.

Some of the credit points within the Ecology category are only available if a Suitably Qualified Ecologist is appointed to carry out a site visit and produce a report. Consequently specialist ecological input is usually required for various aspects of the assessment.