City of London Emphasises NABERS UK Ratings in New Sustainability Guidance

City of London Emphasises NABERS UK Ratings in New Sustainability Guidance

The City of London Corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee has approved the new Planning for Sustainability Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which highlights the importance of  NABERS UK ratings in achieving the City’s sustainability goals. This document, set to be adopted in the coming weeks, offers specific guidance on sustainable design and construction practices, particularly focusing on energy efficiency benchmarks to support the City’s goal of achieving net zero by 2040.

Key Focus: NABERS UK Ratings

A major aspect of the new SPD is the incorporation of NABERS UK ratings, a sustainability performance measurement system for office buildings:

• New office developments should target a 5-star NABERS UK rating.
• Retrofitted office spaces are expected to achieve at least a 4-star NABERS UK rating.

This ensures that both new and existing buildings contribute to reducing whole life-cycle carbon emissions and operational energy use.

Additional Sustainability Themes in the SPD:

1. Retrofit and Reuse – Encourages repurposing existing buildings to align with the City’s ‘Retrofit First’ approach.
2. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy Use – Focuses on achieving high NABERS UK ratings to enhance energy efficiency.
3. Circular Economy – Advocates for minimising waste by transitioning to a circular waste model for building construction and operation.
4. Climate Resilience – Addresses flood risk management, urban overheating, water management, pest and disease control, and infrastructure resilience.
5. Urban Greening and Biodiversity – Promotes the protection and enhancement of biodiversity, habitats, and green infrastructure in the Square Mile.

Stringent Carbon Benchmarking and Offsets

• Embodied carbon benchmarking is introduced, aligning with Greater London Authority standards.
• If developments do not meet embodied carbon benchmarks, they must compensate by delivering additional sustainability benefits, such as enhancing local energy networks, improving public spaces, or investing in climate resilience infrastructure.

Leadership in Global Sustainable Development

Shravan Joshi, Chairman of the Planning and Transport Committee, emphasized that this initiative is a significant step toward decarbonisation while reinforcing London’s status as a leader in sustainable commercial development. He noted that the Square Mile continues to attract top businesses, innovators, and global talent by setting the pace for sustainable design through the adoption of NABERS UK ratings and beyond.

Luke Cleary, Technical Director, CSR Sustain, comments:

“The City of London’s adoption of NABERS UK is a hugely positive step, recognising the success this rating framework has had—and continues to have—in Australia in driving operational efficiency. At CSR Sustain, we are hopeful that this sets a precedent for wider adoption across the UK, particularly in the Private Rented Sector (PRS), where robust operational benchmarking could play a key role in improving energy performance and reducing carbon emissions at scale.”

Origin post :City of London Corporation raises sustainability bar for developers