The Green Property Alliance (GPA) has published a report outlining methods by which its members will aim to standardise how commercial buildings are assessed for their environmental performance.
Among the groups backing the initiative are the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), both of which want to see common sustainability assessment methods used across the industry.
On publication of the GPA’s ‘Establishing the Ground Rules for Property’ report, a number of concerns were raised, particularly around the way energy performance is analysed in relation to rented office space in the UK.
“It has traditionally proven difficult to clearly articulate sustainability performance in rented offices and shopping centres due to the split responsibilities of landlords and tenants,” commented Liz Peace, the British Property Federation’s chief executive.
“The publication of today’s report sets out some helpful ways that landlord and tenant performance can be measured, improvement can be motivated, and achievements articulated.”
In related news, a report recently published by the non-governmental organisation Forum for the Future rated Newcastle as the most sustainable of the UK’s twenty largest cities, with Brighton, Bristol, Leicester and London not far behind.
Editor’s notes: In 2023, the RICS and the UKGBC, along with several other institutions, including the Building Research Establishment (BRE), the Carbon Trust, and others, were working together to create a new Standard.
The Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (NZCBS) would provide an agreed-upon definition and methodology for the built environment industry to determine what constitutes a net-zero carbon building.
The UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard Version 1, or UK NZCBS V1, came into effect in March 2026.
It had been updated for clarity and usability following a testing period and receipt of industry feedback. Version 1 included additional Annexes covering landlord- and tenant-only routes to verification, and an optional verified check at Practical Completion
The second edition of the RICS whole life carbon assessment (WLCA) standard came into effect 1st July 2024.