| Good environmental performance and sustainability | | | | of RIBA B up to the end of RIBA stage E and the |
| are important elements in modern development | | | | AP should receive the minutes of all meetings. |
| projects. Careful planning is essential to ensure that | | | | - A design stage assessment report must be |
| the requirements are met in an efficient and | | | | submitted to BRE for formal certification. |
| cost-effective manner. Therefore sustainability should | | | | - The BREEAM AP should complete a pre-assessment |
| be considered in an early stage of the project with | | | | report no later than at RIBA stage B or equivalent. |
| the support of a sustainability expert. In response to | | | | A further credit can be awarded when the |
| client and industry calls for a formal recognition of | | | | involvement of the BREEAM AP is extended to |
| specialist skills in design of more sustainable buildings | | | | include the entire project cycle until the practical |
| BRE Global has introduced a new BREEAM Accredited | | | | completion of the project. |
| Professionals (or BREEAM AP) qualification. | | | | Although not a strict requirement, it should be |
| To strengthen the case for including a sustainability | | | | considered good practice to consult the BREEAM AP |
| expert on the design team, the latest iteration of | | | | when setting the performance target. Sometimes a |
| BREEAM 2008, published in May 2009, now | | | | performance target is already set, for instance |
| recognises the importance of the early involvement | | | | through an internal policy. This is typically the case for |
| of a sustainability specialist on development projects | | | | governmental departments or government sponsored |
| and awards credits for doing so. Up to two | | | | projects. In other instances a target is set by the |
| innovation credits are available when a BREEAM | | | | local planning authority as part of their planning |
| Accredited Professional is appointed as early as RIBA | | | | policies. In most circumstances however setting the |
| Stage B or equivalent. To be eligible for the first | | | | target is part of the wider negotiations about the |
| credit relating to the appointment of a BREEAM AP | | | | financing of the project and its commercial viability. |
| there are a number of further specific requirements: | | | | The accredited professional should base there advice |
| - At the end of the stage in which the design brief is | | | | on a thorough analysis of the general sustainability |
| established (for instance RIBA stage B) the BREEAM | | | | requirements, the opportunities and constraints. |
| performance target needs to be agreed. It is also a | | | | Carrying out a BREEAM pre-assessment estimation is |
| requirement that the agreed BREEAM performance | | | | a useful tool in testing the implications of setting a |
| target will be met at the design stage and post | | | | particular BREEAM performance level. |
| construction stage assessments. | | | | It is clear that there are some key advantages in |
| - The BREEAM AP must be given the opportunity to | | | | appointing a BREEAM Accredited Professional at an |
| attend key design team meeting held from the start | | | | early stage of a real estate development project. |