news from BRE

published: 29/10/2012

BREEAM Communities 2012 helps to deliver sustainable development

This month sees the launch of BREEAM Communities 2012, a new way for planners, developers and the local community to come together to create and deliver places that meet those all important aspects of social, economic and environmental sustainability.

Following changes to the planning system, in which sustainable development assumes a central place in planning future developments, BRE Global’s  new scheme, BREEAM Communities 2012, helps people navigate their way to a sustainable outcome. Helen Pineo, Manager of BREEAM Communities 2012, explains, ‘It helps planners to structure negotiations on major development proposals whilst testing the sustainability of large sites. It also helps developers to have more confidence in the planning system, whilst finding design solutions that save time and money.’

Sean Nicholson, Technical Director at WSP, says, ‘BREEAM Communities is about developers and planners working together to achieve the most sustainable outcomes for major sites. It’s a solution to moving projects through the planning system and should be welcomed by everyone with an interest in securing sustainable communities. The beauty of BREEAM Communities is that it helps make the concept of sustainable development tangible. It provides a clear framework for the performance of a scheme to be set out, measured, improved and communicated.’

Originally launched in 2008, BREEAM Communities has been streamlined and restructured to take account of planning reforms and feedback. More information on BREEAM Communities is available at www.breeam.org/communities.

Press enquiries: SIMON GUY, +44(0)1923 664305, guys@bre.co.uk. 

Image: Stockholm-based developer Diligentia will use BREEAM Communities 2012 to improve the sustainability of “Kabeln” (The Cable), a 6.3 hectare mixed-use development encompassing offices, retail space and residential dwellings in Sundbyberg.

Notes for Editors

1. For more information on BREEAM Communities go to: www.breeam.org/communities
   For the BREEAM Communities Technical Manual go to: www.breeam.org/communitiesmanual
   For the introductory video go to: www.breeam.org/communities-2012-video.jsp
   
   
2. BREEAM is an internationally recognised measure of a building’s sustainability. Some 245,000 buildings have been BREEAM certified and 950,000 registered for certification – many in the UK with smaller but increasing numbers in more than 50 other countries. Highly flexible, the BREEAM standard can be applied to a very wide range of building types and locations, with versions for new buildings, existing buildings, refurbishment projects and large developments. They are independently assessed – by licensed assessors – for their performance in energy and water use, health and well-being, pollution, transport, materials, waste, ecology and management. BREEAM is based on the latest scientific knowledge and is regularly updated in line with new developments, evolving legislation and feedback from users. The current standard was launched by BRE Global in 2011 and the next update is due in 2013. www.breeam.org
   
   
3. BRE Global Ltd (incorporating LPCB & BREEAM) is an independent, third-party approvals body offering certification of fire, security and sustainability products and services to an international market. BRE Global’s mission is to ‘Protect People, Property and the Planet’. It is part of the BRE Group under the BRE Trust, a registered research and education charity. For further information please contact Tel: +44 (0)1923 664100, Fax: +44 (0)1923 664910, Email: enquiries@breglobal.com or visit www.breglobal.com.