Articles - Creative Design
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) remains the gold standard for measuring sustainable design performance in the built environment. While architects and engineers often take center stage, landscape architects have a powerful, often underestimated, role to play. From green infrastructure to ecological connectivity, the outdoor environment can significantly influence how to boost BREEAM ratings.
Therefore, if you’re aiming to boost BREEAM ratings, landscape-led strategies must be intentional, data-driven, and aligned with the certification criteria. Below are five essential steps that landscape architects can take to elevate a project’s sustainability rating—each one grounded in both best practice and BREEAM benchmarks.
First and foremost, biodiversity is more than a metric—it’s a commitment to ecological health and habitat regeneration. Under BREEAM’s “Land Use and Ecology” section, credits are awarded for protecting and enhancing the ecological value of a site. However, to earn these points, a project must embed biodiversity planning from the outset.
To begin, engage an ecologist during the earliest project stages. This allows for a detailed baseline assessment and an informed strategy moving forward. Next, focus on incorporating features that encourage biodiversity, such as:
Native planting and pollinator-supportive species
Wildlife corridors and ecological linkages
Bird and bat boxes, insect hotels, and nesting areas
Green roofs and living walls integrated into the landscape
Furthermore, aligning design decisions with local biodiversity action plans or conservation priorities can help you qualify for innovation credits and exemplary performance thresholds.
In addition to ecological performance, water use efficiency is a key factor in BREEAM assessments. Landscape architects can have a direct impact on water credits, especially through innovative irrigation, planting strategies, and sustainable drainage systems.
For instance, selecting drought-tolerant or native plant palettes reduces water demand significantly. Moreover, incorporating the following strategies ensures a robust water-efficient design:
Weather-based irrigation controllers
Drip systems rather than overhead watering
Rainwater harvesting integrated into hardscape features
Greywater reuse from buildings
Permeable paving and bioswales to manage stormwater on-site
Consequently, integrating these methods early helps avoid expensive retrofits later. It also promotes cross-disciplinary collaboration between the landscape and MEP teams—critical for achieving coordinated water-saving results.
Notably, materials used in outdoor spaces also contribute to BREEAM scores, particularly under “Mat 01” (Life Cycle Impacts) and “Mat 03” (Responsible Sourcing). While buildings often take priority in material assessment, external works should not be neglected.
To comply with BREEAM’s material requirements, landscape architects should:
Specify FSC- or PEFC-certified timber products
Choose aggregates and paving with verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)
Source materials locally to reduce transportation emissions
Select modular or prefabricated components to minimise waste
Use recycled or reclaimed elements where structurally appropriate
Additionally, tracking material provenance and certification documentation from the beginning simplifies evidence submission during the assessment phase.
Beyond individual tactics, ecological design must be applied holistically to support BREEAM goals across multiple categories, including Health & Wellbeing, Energy, and Ecology.
To that end, consider these integrated strategies:
Use trees and green infrastructure to provide natural shading and reduce urban heat
Design outdoor environments to enhance thermal comfort and reduce HVAC loads indoors
Establish visual connections to greenery to improve mental health outcomes
Promote biodiversity through landscape layering and vertical planting
Reduce glare and surface reflectivity with thoughtful paving and planting combinations
By incorporating ecological performance metrics into spatial design, landscape architects can directly impact occupant comfort and building efficiency. This is especially important as BREEAM increasingly values user-centric outdoor spaces that support both function and experience.
5. Collaborate Early and Consistently with the BREEAM Assessor
Last but not least, strategic collaboration is essential. Too often, valuable landscape features go unrecognised because they are not properly documented or aligned with BREEAM assessment criteria. Therefore, working closely with a licensed BREEAM assessor throughout the project is vital.
During pre-assessment workshops, discuss potential credit opportunities specific to landscape design. Throughout the project lifecycle:
Share planting plans, ecological reports, and SuDS strategies clearly
Ensure supply chain documentation for materials is up to date
Coordinate with other consultants to align goals and responsibilities
Validate each proposed solution against applicable BREEAM credit criteria
Ultimately, by fostering clear communication and integrated workflows, your landscape contribution will be fully captured—and rewarded—in the final assessment.
Boosting BREEAM ratings is not just a technical goal—it’s a design philosophy that starts with intentional, nature-led decisions. Landscape architects bring essential knowledge and skills to the table, particularly when it comes to biodiversity, water, and ecological resilience.
By embracing these five steps—biodiversity planning, water efficiency, sustainable materials, ecological design, and active collaboration—you elevate both your project’s environmental integrity and its certification performance. The result is not only a greener rating, but also a healthier, more resilient space for people and nature alike.
So, the next time you’re shaping a landscape masterplan, remember: sustainability success starts outside the building.
Interested to know more about improving BREEAM Ratings? Read our article ‘How to impact BREEAM ratings through timber specification‘.
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