BREEAM and retail

On 14th March 2017, BRE published a new report to provide evidence of the return on investment of BREEAM.

The report was prepared by researchers at BREEAM and Currie & Brown, the leading international asset management and cost consultancy. It draws upon on examples of the approaches and benefits seen by some of the UK’s largest and most experienced developers and retailers, and includes guidance for those aiming to get the most out of their investment in sustainable retail buildings, whatever their size or role in the sector.

Examples quoted in the report include:

Use of BREEAM by The Crown Estate, which set an aspiration to achieve BREEAM Excellent for major new retail developments. Their use of consistent methods, helping to set the organisation’s priorities and standards, helps to efficiently deliver their policy goals and maximises the potential to transfer lessons learnt across the industry.

Investment in two BREEAM Excellent ‘Sustainable Learning Stores’ by Marks and Spencer, who monitored and evaluated the benefits of their sustainable features, importantly including an assessment of customer and staff perceptions.

Gavin Dunn, Director at BRE, said:

“BREEAM certification, the assessment process and, importantly, meeting the performance standards stipulated under the various assessment areas can help retailers and developers to improve the performance of their buildings.

"In 2013, energy use and associated carbon cost the sector £3.3 billion. Adopting BREEAM performance standards brings valuable operational efficiencies associated with using a consistent industry standard method. It also acts as a spur to innovation and a tool to assist communications within project teams and other stakeholders.”

Adam Mactavish, Operations Director at Currie & Brown, said:

“This study illustrates the importance of the retail industry to life in the UK. It powerfully demonstrates the many ways that high sustainability standards help the sector get the most from its property, its largest operating cost after employment".

The retail-specific value report for BREEAM follows on from publication of 'The Value of BREEAM: A Review of Latest Thinking in the Commercial Building Sector', published at the end of 2016.

Among the findings of this report were a 66% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions for a typical BREEAM Outstanding rated building, with 32% reductions for BREEAM Excellent rated buildings.

Copies of these value reports are available as a free download on the BREEAM website.

This article was originally published here by BRE Buzz on 14 Mar 2017. It was written by Simon Guy.