WWith BREEAM Version 7 on the horizon, it brings a refreshed approach to sustainability standards across the built environment.

As part of this rollout, the new BREEAM Residential Manual is set to launch on the 16th April 2025, introducing key updates to criteria, evidence requirements, and a major revamp of how life cycle assessments and embodied carbon are handled.  

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is the world’s longest-established method of assessing, rating, and certifying the sustainability of buildings and has been a cornerstone of sustainable building certification since its inception in 1990.  Developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) in the UK, BREEAM sets the standard for best practice in sustainable design, construction, and operation across a range of building types. The assessment covers key categories such as; Energy, Water, Health & Wellbeing, Materials, Waste, Pollution, Transport, Land Use & Ecology, Managment and Innovation.  

By awarding ratings, BREEAM helps developers, designers and building owners benchmark and improve environmental performance, reduce costs, and demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and ESG principles. 

Launching in 2025, BREEAM Version 7 realigns BREEAM’s criteria with global best practices and net zero ambitions, placing Whole Life Carbon and energy performance at the center. 

This update further strengthens BREEAM’s role in demonstrating genuine sustainability across a building’s lifecycle, from early design to post-construction. It introduces new minimum standards, revised weightings, and a clear emphasis on reducing both operational and embodied emissions. Some of the key changes in BREEAM V7 regarding energy, carbon, and whole life cycle assessments are as follow: 

At Wallace Whittle, our growing ESG team integrates wellbeing strategies early in the design process, balancing occupant health with broader sustainability, energy performance, and building efficiency goals. 

BREEAM Version 7 signals a clear strategic pivot toward decarbonisation, circularity, and performance-based outcomes. By embedding whole life carbon across the core assessment framework, V7 is positioned to be a key enabler for delivering net zero carbon buildings in practice, and not just intent.

Early-stage modelling and robust data collection are now not only encouraged, but essential to achieving top-tier BREEAM ratings. The shift in weightings and minimum standards also raises the bar. The reconfiguration of credits emphasises BREEAM’s increasing alignment with other industry accreditations like NABERS UK, also improves the interoperability and long-term tracking of carbon performance across an asset’s lifecycle.

BREEAM Version 7 represents a step towards a more holistic and performance-based assessment of buildings, and as we approach the official launch of the new Residential Manual on 16 April 2025, now is the time to assess how your upcoming projects align with these changes. Whether you’re preparing for registration or evaluating your route to certification, our Sustainability Team at Wallace Whittle is here to help you navigate BREEAM V7

Visit the BRE website for more on BREEAM V7 

Have questions or ready to get started?  Email our Sustainability Team at [email protected] to talk through your project.  

Hosted by the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREIIF), the upcoming event stands as a pivotal platform where industry leaders, innovators, and stakeholders converge to exchange insights and explore collaborative opportunities shaping the future of renewable energy and infrastructure investment.

Set amidst the vibrant heart of Leeds, from Tuesday 20th May to Thursday 22nd May, this annual gathering promises an engaging agenda. From keynote addresses to panel discussions, workshops, and networking sessions, it will encourage meaningful dialogue and drive actionable outcomes within the sector. With a keen focus on the latest trends, innovations, and investment strategies, we aim to gather invaluable knowledge and forge further strategic partnerships in this evolving landscape.

Our delegates, ready to contribute their expertise and perspectives, will engage in key discussions covering sustainability, market dynamics, regulatory frameworks, and emerging technologies within renewable energy and infrastructure. But it’s more than just showcasing what we know – it’s about learning, collaborating, and growing together. Whether we’re sharing insights, brainstorming solutions, or simply swapping stories over coffee, we’re eager to meet with current and new connections.

We’re looking forward to the event, eager to catch up with many of our valued clients and collaborators, and explore new opportunities.

ESG & Sustainability

Nick Hayes, Head of ESG & Sustainability – [email protected]

Connect with Nick on LinkedIn.

Sarah Chipchase, Director Sustainability – [email protected]

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn.

England

Craig Robertson, Director England and Head of Residential – [email protected]

Connect with Craig on LinkedIn.

Paul Dean, Director, Manchester – [email protected]

Connect with Paul on LinkedIn.

Darren Wright, Director, Birmingham – [email protected]

Connect with Darren on LinkedIn.

Scotland

Barry McKeane, Director Glasgow – [email protected]

Connect with Barry on LinkedIn.

Stephen Osborne, Director Edinburgh- [email protected]

Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn.

Steven Dunn, Director Scotland – [email protected]

Connect with Steven on LinkedIn. 

Last week, we witnessed a major disturbance at Heathrow Airport due to a fire at North Hyde substation, which as a result caused widespread disruption, leading to the cancellation of nearly 1,400 flights and affecting over 200,000 passengers.  

While power was restored and the airport returned to a full schedule by Sunday, the incident has triggered investigations by the government and Heathrow itself into the cause of the outage, the response, and the broader resilience of critical national infrastructure.  

A key point emerging from the immediate aftermath is the claim by National Grid’s CEO that sufficient power was available from other substations for Heathrow to remain operational, raising questions about the airport’s preparedness and decision-making during the crisis, but it also raises questions within the industry on the importance of wider resilience across sectors, from Data Centres, to education. We spoke to Stephen Phimister, Director of Engineering at Wallace Whittle, to hear his perspective on the importance of resilience. 

Despite Heathrow having multiple electricity connections and reported on-site, the fire at the North Hyde substation appears to have caused an outage of such significance the airport had to be closed. Thus highlighting a vulnerability where a single event can cripple a critical system, even with redundancy measures in place and it’s a reminder of how easily critical infrastructure can be disrupted. 

“Grid Supply Points (GSPs) play a vital role in transforming high-voltage electricity from the transmission network, typically 275kV or 132kV, down to distribution levels around 66kV or 33kV. Each GSP is generally equipped with two transformers, operating in an N+N configuration, meaning both can handle the load if one fails. A failure of a single transformer creates what is known as an N-1 condition, which the system can typically withstand. However, in the case of Heathrow, the fire not only caused the failure of the first transformer but also appears to have compromised or shut down the second transformer, resulting in an N-2 condition, complete system failure. ” Stephen explained.

Although Heathrow had backup diesel generators to maintain safety-critical systems, these were not sufficient to power the entire airport. According to Heathrow’s CEO, Thomas Woldbye, switching to the other two substations “takes time.” However, the head of National Grid indicated that these substations were operational and could have supplied enough power to keep the airport running. This discrepancy raises concerns about the speed and effectiveness of Heathrow’s electrical reconfiguration procedures and its overall preparedness for handling such emergencies. 

What Happens When the Lights Go Out?

This incident raises the issue of the importance of a stable electricity grid. With increasing reliance on the grid how could a major outage affect wider society, and how consequences of such an outage could ripple across multiple sectors. Here’s a generalised glimpse into how different parts of society could be affected: 

The impact of such disruptions extends far beyond commercial and institutional sectors, affecting everyday life in numerous ways. While diesel and internal combustion engine (ICE) buses may continue operating, electric buses are left stranded once their batteries run out, as EV charging infrastructure is rarely supported by backup generators. Major railway stations may continue to function, albeit with reduced capacity, but smaller local stations, lacking on-site power support, are likely to shut down entirely.  

What can we learn from this?

The National Grid substation fire serves as a stark reminder of how fragile critical infrastructure can be and the cascading effects of a major power failure. One key takeaway is that resilience is often only noticed when it fails. The impact of incidents on the electricity grid, or even within private premises, can impact business operations. This highlights the need to consider not just primary failures but also worst-case cascading failures in resilience planning. 

The incident also emphasises that business continuity planning cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach. Underscoring the importance of regularly reviewing and testing backup systems to ensure they function properly in a crisis, and the urgent need to strengthen the protection of critical national infrastructure. This is especially important given that Heathrow is a privately operated business and not under direct government control. 

“Accepting that Heathrow is a private operation, ultimately, the Heathrow outage is a wake-up call for governments, infrastructure providers, and businesses to consider the importance of resilience. As the complexity of modern systems grows, so does the need to build robust and adaptable infrastructure that can withstand challenges. Investing in resilience today is not just a precaution, it’s necessary for future safeguarding.”  

It would be easy to suggest that resilience is added everywhere but that just isn’t practical or economical. Instead, consideration needs to be given to the impact of disruption on a number of factors including cost, operational impact and reputational damage.“ Stephen concluded.

At Wallace Whittle, we understand the importance of resilience in critical infrastructure. If you’re looking to strengthen the resilience of your projects or would like to discuss how our expertise can support your engineering needs, reach out to Stephen Phimister or contact us at [email protected]

Wallace Whittle is excited to welcome Sarah Chipchase to the team as our new Director of Sustainability, bringing over 20 years of expertise in driving environmental performance in the built environment. 

Sarah, who will be based in Leeds, joins us to lead and develop our growing ESG & Sustainability Consultancy, working closely with Nick Hayes, our Head of ESG and Sustainability. With extensive experience in sustainability certifications such as BREEAM, WELL, and NABERS, Sarah brings a wealth of knowledge to help our clients meet and exceed their sustainability goals. 

“Sustainability matters in every part of modern building projects. Funders want to see environmental performance designed into plans, and end users expect the buildings they occupy to be as sustainable as possible. Wallace Whittle already has an impressive track record in this space, and I’m excited to build on that momentum as we help clients address their sustainability priorities.” Sarah shared.

Sarah’s career began in environmental auditing and management systems, which led her into the world of sustainable engineering and building certification. Having managed teams for most of her career, she has developed a strong track record in overseeing compliance frameworks and guiding clients through complex certification processes. 

A key part of Sarah’s role will be to enhance Wallace Whittle’s sustainability advisory services and drive the adoption of PathWWay, our unique ESG management tool. PathWWay provides a customisable dashboard that allows project teams to set tailored ESG criteria and track progress, offering a single source of verifiable information that can be shared across stakeholders. 

Nick Hayes, Head of ESG and Sustainability, shared

“Sustainability is still a very fast-moving part of the building sector and clients need the right experts onside to help them meet their targets and ambitions. Sarah is a recognised expert in how building projects can not only meet their sustainability compliance obligations, but how they can set new standards and innovate. She’s a hugely valuable addition to the team and brings a wealth of experience in this important area.” 

As Wallace Whittle continues to expand our sustainability consultancy and strengthen our presence in England and beyond, Sarah’s leadership will play a key role in shaping the future of our work in sustainable engineering. 

Connect with our team today to explore how we can help your business achieve its ESG & Sustainability goals, or to learn more about the innovative tools and services we offer visit our dedicated ESG & Sustainability Hub

Wallace Whittle has recently committed to the Construction Quality Improvement Collaborative (CQIC) Charter, which aligns with our vision of placing quality at the forefront of all decision-making to foster a sustainable quality culture.

This commitment supports the objectives outlined in the Scottish Construction Accord, aiming to transform the construction sector by enhancing quality, sustainability, and collaboration. The Scottish Construction Accord, launched in October 2022, represents a collaborative effort between Scotland’s public sector and the construction industry to transform the sector. This initiative aims to create a sustainable, profitable, diverse, and innovative construction industry that benefits all of Scotland.

The Charter outlined by the CQIC is founded on five key values: 

At Wallace Whittle, Quality of Product and Quality of Service are fundamental to our operations. This dedication is exemplified through our WW:Academy which offers structured learning and development programs across four levels, tailored to different career stages, from junior staff to future leaders. The Academy is led by Paul Hargreaves, our Academy Manager, who collaborates closely with Raymond Kelly, our Quality & Standardisation Manager, both bringing extensive experience in the construction industry. 

“Our commitment to quality is embedded in all of our processes and our culture. By aligning with the CQIC Charter, we’re reinforcing our dedication to delivering excellence in every project, ensuring that quality is not just an expectation but standard.”

Raymond Kelly, Quality & Standardisation Manager.

Our commitment to quality is further reinforced by embedding quality control and assurance processes within our internal project programs. We allocate dedicated time for quality checks on all project outputs and conduct continuous internal monitoring to ensure adherence to our high standards. This approach aligns with the CQIC Charter’s emphasis on doing it right the first time and creating conditions that embed a “right first time” culture.  

By joining the CQIC Charter, we are reaffirming our dedication to a quality-centric culture, supporting the ambitions of the Scottish Construction Accord and contributing to the advancement of the construction industry in Scotland. 

To learn more about how Wallace Whittle is driving quality through the CQIC Charter, feel free to reach out to Raymond Kelly or contact us at [email protected]

The UK Net Zero Carbon (UKNZC) Building Standard is an initiative that aims to tackle climate change. The pilot version of the Standard launched in September 2024. With the goal of delivering Net Zero Carbon Buildings by 2050, this voluntary standard sets ambitious new benchmarks for the built environment.  

The Standard adopts both a phased approach and sector-specific targets, understanding that achieving net zero carbon emissions in buildings is a long-term goal and requires a phased approach, but also that different building sectors have unique characteristics and challenges in achieving net zero carbon emissions, meaning there are also sector-specific targets. 

Consolidating existing standards and guidelines from organisations such as the BSI, UKGBC, LETI, RIBA, RICS, and CIBSE, The Standard establishes a unified process for achieving net-zero buildings by addressing carbon emissions across new developments and existing structures. The Standard covers retrofits, renovations, and replacements, and provides a framework for significantly reducing the carbon footprint of buildings across all sectors.  

“Organisations and clients across all sectors are setting bold net-zero ambitions in line with their ESG commitments. However, the real challenge lies in delivering on these goals in a transparent and measurable way. Buildings play a critical role in this effort, both in understanding their environmental impact and achieving meaningful carbon reductions. The UKNZC Building Standard provides a clear, structured framework that leverages industry expertise to support this transition. Its introduction is a welcome step toward a more sustainable built environment.” Nick Hayes, Head of ESG & Sustainability, shared. 

Overview of The UKNZC Building Standard  

As buildings account for around 40% of the UK’s total energy consumption and 23% of greenhouse gas emissions, The UKNZC Building Standard applies to a broad range of building types, across residential, commercial, and public sectors, in attempt to reduce those emissions, and make the shift to a more sustainable environment.  

Unlike many previous industry initiatives, the UKNZC Standard takes a comprehensive and holistic approach to assess a building’s carbon impact, considering both embodied and operational carbon emissions. This ensures that carbon reduction is not treated as a one-off effort, but rather as an ongoing commitment spanning the entire lifecycle of a building. 

Key Components of the Standard

The core objectives of the UKNZC Building Standard focus on reducing both embodied and operational carbon emissions across the entire life-cycle of buildings. It emphasises genuine carbon reduction over offsetting, transparency through independent validation, and encourages innovation and collaboration to achieve a sustainable, net-zero carbon built environment. Limits and reporting metrics are proposed for various key components, which become progressively more stringent each year, which in turn incentivises early action to reduce energy consumption. The proposed targets are subject to third-party verification to confirm that the buildings meet the requirements. Each component targets a critical aspect of carbon reduction and sustainability, ensuring that every aspect of a building’s emissions is considered: 

The UKNZC Building Standard does not outline specific methods to achieve its goals but instead sets clear benchmarks, which can foster innovation and encourage tailored solutions.  

The Standard creates opportunities for us to work with clients, architects, and other stakeholders to deliver integrated, efficient, and forward-thinking designs. As the industry embraces this shift towards decarbonisation, our experience in MEP design, Sustainability, and ESG principles positions us to help our clients follow the pilot standard and drive meaningful change. 

Strategies for Implementation

At Wallace Whittle, we believe that achieving net-zero carbon starts at the very beginning of a project. By integrating sustainability principles early into the design and planning stages, we ensure that every aspect of the building process is aligned with net-zero goals. This involves selecting sustainable materials, optimising building fabric for energy efficiency, sourcing materials locally, and incorporating renewable energy solutions from the outset.

We work closely with our clients to ensure these principles are part of the foundation, ensuring long-term sustainability from day one. Some of the strategies include: 

As the UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard paves the way for a more sustainable environment, it sets ambitious yet achievable benchmarks for reducing carbon emissions across all sectors. While the path to net-zero demands collaboration, innovation, and long-term commitment, it also opens unprecedented opportunities for forward-thinking consultancies like Wallace Whittle to lead by example. 

The UKNZC Building Standard is more than a framework; it is a call-to-action. Through commitment and collaboration, we can meet these ambitious goals and create a built environment that better benefits buildings, people and the planet!  

Connect with our ESG or Sustainability team to discover how we can help your business meet its ESG goals and implement more sustainable solutions, get in touch today. 

Wallace Whittle has been invited to participate in the prestigious Scale Up 2.0 initiative, led by The Hunter Foundation.

This exclusive program is designed to support high-growth businesses headquartered in Scotland, providing them with the tools, mentorship, and strategic guidance to scale effectively to £100m+ in revenues.

Our selection for Scale Up 2.0 is a testament to Wallace Whittle’s strong position as an ambitious, scalable business with high profitability and a relentless growth mindset. We take great pride in this recognition, which reinforces our commitment to sustainable expansion and industry leadership.

A Year of Learning and Growth

Over the next year, our Managing Director, Allan McGill, will be actively participating in the program’s leadership retreats, gaining invaluable insights and strategies to propel our business forward. Additionally, members of our wider Board team will engage in select sessions, ensuring that the benefits of this initiative are embedded across our organisation.

“With us now in our fourth year of business since our MBO, and organically growing from £8m to £15m, this invite has come at just the right time as we look to scale up over the next few years. We’ve already started off well with the recent acquisition of Davie + McCulloch and more opportunities currently being considered.

Being part of this programme will allow us access to many talented individuals with experience of scaling up businesses across various sectors. One of the first sessions was given by Sir Tom Hunter himself – it was fascinating and inspiring to hear first-hand how he scaled up his business and the rules he worked to when doing it.” Allan shared.

Our Goals

This opportunity will also provide us with a unique platform to refine our vision, accelerate innovation, and strengthen our market position, which the full board are fully engaged with as we look to grow and scale the business.

We look forward to sharing our journey with you and working with the other programme participants, as we leverage this opportunity to drive Wallace Whittle to new heights.

For more information on Scale Up 2.0, visit Scale Up Scotland.

WWe are officially accredited by the Good Business Charter! This accreditation is a testament to our commitment to responsible business practices and aligns with our Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.

At Wallace Whittle, we are committed to responsible business practices and integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into everything we do. That’s why we are proud to announce our accreditation with the Good Business Charter (GBC), a network of over 1,000 businesses that share a commitment to ethical and sustainable practices. To earn this accreditation, we adhered to all 10 GBC components, which encompass a broad spectrum of responsibilities towards employees, suppliers, customers and the environment.

We recognised the value of the Good Business Charter’s 10 components, which set clear expectations for responsible business behavior. These principles align closely with our own ESG commitments, making it a natural fit for us. As an ESG service provider, we believe in practicing what we preach, and joining the GBC provides a recognised commitment to these values as we embark on our own PathWWay for Wallace Whittle.

Our Business, Our People, Our Impact

Being accredited by the GBC offers third-party validation of our responsible business practices, reinforcing that we are not only providing ESG services but also embedding these principles into our company culture. Several GBC components focus on employee well-being, including:

1. Employee representation
2. Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (E,D&I)
3. The Real Living Wage
4. Fairer hours and contracts

These components align with our commitment to developing and supporting our people as we continue to grow our investment in their well-being.

ESG & GBC

Our GBC membership supports our internal ESG Strategy by providing a recognisable accreditation that affirms our commitment to responsible business practices. Furthermore, the GBC’s 10 components align seamlessly with client needs within our PathWWay model, enhancing our ability to communicate and implement ESG strategies effectively.

PathWWay is our bespoke approach which enables organisations to highlight their ESG and Sustainability ambitions across a range of issues, including governance, energy and environmental, and incorporating broader aspects such as social value and ecological impact. The approach considers issues that are material to all stakeholders and can reflect, for example organisational targets, funding and planning requirements and social value commitments.

“We are delighted that Wallace Whittle is now accredited with the Good Business Charter. The GBC and its 10 components reflect our commitment to being a responsible business and will be integral to our ESG strategy. This recognition supports our business, our customers, and our people in creating a more ethical and sustainable future.”

Nick Hayes, Director of ESG & Sustainability – Wallace Whittle

Our ESG team recently attended the GBC 5^th Anniversary event in London, where Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner delivered the keynote speech, reaffirming her commitment to the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation through the Employment Rights Bill – and its clear mission to boost growth and living standards across the UK.

With 97% of people valuing responsible business, GBC’s independent certification sets us apart as a leader in ethical capitalism.

We look forward to leveraging this accreditation to further strengthen our ESG efforts and continue making a meaningful impact for our people, our clients and the wider community.

If you’re looking to discuss all things ESG & Sustainability, or want to find out more about how we got accredited, reach out to Nick Hayes, Director of ESG & Sustainability at [email protected]

The Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank reached a significant milestone recently with the official handover of Phase 2, marking the completion of the Surgical Centre. This development builds on the success of Phase 1, which saw the completion of the state-of-the-art Eye Centre in 2020. 

Phase 1 of the Golden Jubilee introduced a purpose-built Eye Centre equipped with six theatres and integrated outpatient and diagnostic facilities. This phase has already set a high standard of care, particularly for patients requiring cataract surgery, and served as a strong foundation for the continued expansion of the hospital.  

The completion of Phase 2, further enhances the Golden Jubilee Hospital’s capabilities with a range of new facilities, designed to meet the growing demand for elective care in Scotland. The new Surgical Centre includes: 

• Additional general surgery, orthopaedic and endoscopy facilities 

• New surgical admissions and recovery unit 

• New Central Sterile Processing Department 

• New Day Case / Day Surgery admission unit 

Wallace Whittle were involved throughout both stages, consulting on the MEP and sustainability design.  

“We were delighted to be the MEP and Sustainability designers for the new Surgical Centre delivered as part of the National Treatment Centre programme at the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital.

Having already successfully delivered the Eye Centre on the same site, we were keen to further enhance the Golden Jubilee Foundations ability to provide additional day case treatment to patients in Scotland.

Working successfully with the design and client teams, we have delivered another successful healthcare project for Scotland.” Paul Cooper, Healthcare Lead Scotland & Northern Ireland

With the completion of Phase 2, the Golden Jubilee Hospital is well-equipped to meet the needs of patients in Scotland, offering modern facilities and enhanced care. 

This milestone also marks a significant achievement in the ongoing development of the hospital. 

To learn more about our healthcare initiatives and the ongoing projects visit our Healthcare Expertise page or reach out directly to our dedicated healthcare leads, Paul Cooper for Scotland and Northern Ireland, and Jon Blackhurst for England.