BREEAM Outstanding, representing the very best in the built environment
Mainer Associates are proud to assist our clients in achieving post construction certifications for BREEAM Outstanding – the highest rating a building can achieve within a BREEAM assessment. This year we’ve helped 3 projects achieve this distinction…find out how we did it.
Why BREEAM Outstanding?
BREEAM Outstanding buildings represents the very best within the built environment.
Only the top 1% of UK new non-domestic buildings are BREEAM Outstanding which ensures they have the best quality – and the most sustainable – building materials and practises used within their construction. This, consequently, produces buildings which are highly energy efficient.
This year, Mainer Associates have helped 3 post construction BREEAM Outstanding projects to the market:
11 and 12 Wellington Place, Leeds,
The Eden at New Bailey, Salford, and
NOMA - 4 Angel Square, Manchester
Lets take a closer look at what we did on the projects
11 & 12 Wellington Place, Leeds
Client:
MEPC
Architect
TP Bennett
Project Specification
Mixed Use, Office, Retail, Public Realm
Location
Leeds
Services
BREEAM, Fitwel, ESG, TM54, WLCA, LCC, Acoustics, Carbon Centric Dashboard
11 & 12 Wellington Place in Leeds represents the most energy efficient building in Yorkshire.
The site on which 11 & 12 Wellington Place is situated, however, represented a significant challenge due to its location and its proximity to listed buildings.
The project had been severely disrupted following the COVID-19 pandemic, but it highlighted the necessity for highly sustainable buildings and the client MEPC was keen to satisfy this increasing market demand.
To accomplish this, a more onerous BREEAM Outstanding rating was targeted and though this represented a challenge, Mainers’ wealth of experience meant that we were more than ready to help.
We began to work towards this rating through initiating team discussions, which allowed a set of credits to be identified upon which the desired rating could be achieved. This analysis of potential credits considered the previously discussed site-specific difficulties of the city centre location. Meanwhile, Mainer Associates provided an Accredited Professional (AP) to work on the project, who supported and guided decision-making for elements such as material procurement. We additionally undertook similar sustainability services for the project, including the whole life carbon assessment.
As the lead Sustainability Consultancy for several sustainability services at 11 & 12 Wellington Place, this allowed key decisions to be completed in the early stages of the project’s development, but also throughout the project where necessary.
Subsequently, MEPC’s request for BREEAM Outstanding was honoured and the sustainability of the asset was not compromised.
11 & 12 Wellington Place received BREEAM outstanding certification and was also recently verified as an industry leader in up front embodied carbon, being rated 533kgCO2e/m2 for A1-A5 emissions, making it one of Yorkshire's most sustainable buildings.
“11 & 12 Wellington Place is the first in a set of developments at the scheme set to revolutionise sustainable construction while always keeping social responsibility at their heart.”
Paul Pavia Commercial Director, MEPC
The Eden at New Bailey, Salford
Client
Bowmer & Kirkland
Architect
Make Architects
Project Specification
Mixed Use: Office & Retail
Location
Salford
Services
BREEAM, WLCA
Eden at New Bailey is a new commercial office that was delivered by our clients Bowmer + Kirkland (B+K). The project, which features the largest living wall in Europe, involved Mainer Associates delivering BREEAM Outstanding certification, as well as undertaking the embodied carbon analysis
We supported B+K during the development of their tender, which involved responding to embodied carbon targets – and reduction opportunities – as recommended within the tender documentation.
To do this, we aided with a key carbon reduction opportunity alongside B+K through engaging with their supply chain to use a reclaimed access flooring system (rather than a newly manufactured system). Through the reuse of this access flooring system, a substantial saving was made in terms of the materials used; this, consequently, yielded positive results when deducing credits for the BREEAM Assessment.
As Mainer Associates were responsible for undertaking both the BREEAM and LCA, this similarly allowed us to be in a unique position, whereby we could easily provide diligent solutions to benefit the building’s overall sustainability.
The Eden will add to an increasing stock of BREEAM Outstanding buildings in Greater Manchester.
“This place-changing building has been designed to push the envelope in terms of sustainable regeneration and highlight what can be achieved when like-minded partners work together to deliver something truly special for the benefit of everyone.”
Phil Mayall, Director at English Cities Fund
NOMA – 4 Angel Square, Manchester
Client
Federated Hermes
Architect
Simpson Haugh
Project Specification
Mixed Use: Office/Retail/Public Realm
Location
Manchester
Services
BREEAM, Fitwel, WLCA, LCC, Carbon Centric Dashboard
NOMA, 4 Angel Square, Manchester, is the first operationally net zero building to come to market. Located in Manchester’s city centre, the development revolutionising best practice for large-scale commercial buildings not only in the North, but also nationally.
In keeping with the design philosophy of net zero, the development was targeting BREEAM Outstanding, and we worked alongside our clients, MEPC and B&K, to deliver this in early 2024.
Our key role on this project has been to facilitate the ambitious sustainability targets into the BREEAM Assessment and related deliverables. Due to the development’s location in Manchester, we have routinely attended site visits throughout the design and construction phases, helping the team to achieve the BREEAM target and requirements.
As well as this, we have attended and chaired workshops with all the different disciplines which make up the project team, to streamline individual works undertaken.
The net-zero aspect of NOMA, 4 Angel Square, is perhaps the most challenging aspect of the build. However, through Mainer Associates’ LCA work, we were able to specify and alter the design of the building materials used (which contribute to the net-zero target), as well as ensuring that this was compliant for BREEAM Outstanding requirements.
“With 4 Angel Square, the first operationally Net Zero building to come to market, NOMA is leading the way in creating a sustainable, collaborative and creative neighbourhood.”
Dan Hyde, Development Director at MEPC
How can Mainer Associates help you with BREEAM?
As demonstrated, Mainer are well placed to help clients achieve a BREEAM Outstanding building rating. We understand the challenges that come with this, and we have processes in place in order to ensure a smooth assessment and successful outstanding accreditation.
If you have a BREEAM enquiry please contact us at hello@mainer.co.uk for a consultation
Please click below for more information on Mainer’s Services:
LCA
EIA
BREEAM
Building Physics
Fitwel
Scope 3 Emissions
Planning Statements
ESG