Building Research Establishment BRE
In 1917, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research proposed the creation of an organisation to investigate building materials and methods of construction for new housing.
In June 1920, the Building Research Board met for the first time and in 1921 The Building Research Station (BRS), a government-funded laboratory, was established to carry out research work for the Board.
In 1972, the Building Research Station became the Building Research Establishment (BRE).
The Building Research Establishment was privatised in 1997, owned by a new body, the Foundation for the Built Environment (FBE), since which time it has referred to itself as BRE. In 2005, the Foundation was renamed the BRE Trust.
BRE is an independent, research-based consultancy, testing and training organisation, operating in the built environment and associated industries. Its head office is in Watford and it has regional offices in Scotland and Wales.
BRE activities include:
- Consultancy.
- Research and innovation.
- Testing, certification, approvals and listings (such as the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) and GreenBookLive).
- Sustainability and BREEAM (BREAAM is the BRE Environmental Assessment Method. First launched in the UK in 1990, it sets best practice standards for the environmental performance of buildings).
- Training, events and accreditation (such as the BRE Energy Assessor Accreditation Schemes).
As well as BRE, other BRE Group activities include:
- BRE Global, an independent, third-party approvals organisation working to ensure that fire, security, environmental and other products and services provide the quality of performance and protection that they should.
- BRE Ventures, bringing together innovators, networks and funding streams to take innovation to market quickly.
All profits made by the BRE Group are gift aided to the BRE Trust, the largest UK charity dedicated to research and education in the built environment.
In February 2019, Gillian Charlesworth became the new chief executive of BRE following Peter Bonfield's move to become vice-chancellor and president of the University of Westminster.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- 2021 Soft Landings Conference.
- BRE Group profile page on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE Buzz articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE National Solar Centre.
- BRE Trust.
- BRE Watford Innovation Park.
- BREEAM.
- CIRIA.
- Construction industry institutes and associations.
- Cork House.
- Design quality indicator DQI.
- Domestic Retrofit training course.
- Homes England Modern Methods of Construction research finalised.
- NABERS UK.
Featured articles and news
Apprenticeships and the responsibility we share
Perspectives from the CIOB President as National Apprentice Week comes to a close.
The first line of defence against rain, wind and snow.
Building Safety recap January, 2026
What we missed at the end of last year, and at the start of this...
National Apprenticeship Week 2026, 9-15 Feb
Shining a light on the positive impacts for businesses, their apprentices and the wider economy alike.
Applications and benefits of acoustic flooring
From commercial to retail.
From solid to sprung and ribbed to raised.
Strengthening industry collaboration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of Construction and The Chartered Institute of Building sign Memorandum of Understanding.
A detailed description from the experts at Cornish Lime.
IHBC planning for growth with corporate plan development
Grow with the Institute by volunteering and CP25 consultation.
Connecting ambition and action for designers and specifiers.
Electrical skills gap deepens as apprenticeship starts fall despite surging demand says ECA.
Built environment bodies deepen joint action on EDI
B.E.Inclusive initiative agree next phase of joint equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan.
Recognising culture as key to sustainable economic growth
Creative UK Provocation paper: Culture as Growth Infrastructure.
Futurebuild and UK Construction Week London Unite
Creating the UK’s Built Environment Super Event and over 25 other key partnerships.
Welsh and Scottish 2026 elections
Manifestos for the built environment for upcoming same May day elections.
Advancing BIM education with a competency framework
“We don’t need people who can just draw in 3D. We need people who can think in data.”