In-Use / BIU International Commercial V6 / Part 1 / 03 - Transport /

TRA 01 - Alternative modes of transport

Information correct as of 18thApril 2026. Please see kb.breeam.com for the latest compliance information.

Car sharing group - KBCN1510

The term, ‘car sharing group’, as a sustainable transport measure, may be interpreted differently. For the purposes of the BREEAM Standards, therefore, the following additional guidance should be applied, to support assessors’ understanding of the criteria, when determining compliance. Aim: The aim of this measure is that the asset’s management establishes, promotes and administers a process which encourages building users to share private car journeys to and from work, thus reducing the number of cars used for this purpose. Principles: A car sharing group will, generally: A car sharing group is not: The criteria do not prescribe what terms and conditions should be implemented and, whilst the above principles should generally be followed, specific arrangements may vary. However, evidence and justification must always be provided to demonstrate that the above ‘Aim’ is met.

Cycle facilities – Separate showers within shared gender-specific (single gender) facilities - KBCN1601

Cultural norms and expectations in relation to privacy may vary. The guidance on providing separate showers in the above situation is, therefore, clarified as follows: Where showers are not divided into individual cubicles, or are only partially separated, this does not preclude compliance. However, the assessor must be satisfied and provide justification that the arrangements are in line with local custom and appropriate to the building type and the demographic of building users.

Cycle spaces – Minimum and maximum requirements - KBCN0637

These remain applicable where the 50% reduction allowed for building locations with a high level of public transport accessibility is in effect. This means that, for instance, a large retail will still need to provide at least ten customer cycle storage spaces and could meet compliance with a maximum of fifty. 
22-Nov-2023 Scheme applicability updated.
18-May-2017 Previous KBCN on large retail adapted to include any minimum requirement for cycle storage spaces.

Cycle storage – 50% reduction applies to all users - KBCN1631

Where a 50% of reduction in required cycle storage spaces is allowed for any reason (for instance, for meeting a threshold for good public transport accessibility), this applies to all asset users. This includes staff, and any applicable users such as customers, visitors or residents. However, any minimum or maximum requirements remain the same. See KBCN0637. This principle aligns with BREEAM New Construction and Refurbishment and Fit-Out.

Cycle storage – Multi-residential long-term stay - KBCN1592

For the purposes of calculating the cycle storage requirements, residents should be considered as 'staff'.

Cyclists’ facilities – Combining different facilities - KBCN0683

Cyclists' facilities can be combined, provided that all relevant compliance requirements are met and it is demonstrated that there is no conflict impacting on their use. For example, compliant showers can be combined with compliant lockers in one room, subject to the principle below. For combined facilities to count as multiple facilities, they must be capable of being used independently of each other at the same time (where relevant) with reference to any space requirements, access, gender and privacy issues. 
11 Jan 2023 - Applicability to BIU V6C confirmed
10 Feb 2022 - Updated to clarify that facilities can be combined where there is no conflict.

Cyclists’ facilities – Matching additional cycle spaces - KBCN00093

The minimum number of showers/lockers/changing facilities required for BREEAM compliance is determined by the minimum number of compliant bicycle spaces required, not by how many total compliant bicycle spaces have been provided. Where more than the minimum number of compliant cycle spaces has been provided, there is no requirement to provide more than the minimum number of showers/lockers/changing facilities. 
01 Feb 2022 - Wording clarified and applicability to BIU V6C confirmed
 

Cyclists’ facilities – Multi-residential / residential institutions - KBCN0967

Where there is a BREEAM requirement for residents, compliant facilities within their accommodation can be considered as cyclists' facilities. Separate facilities for staff must be provided as required to achieve compliance. 
22 Aug 2023 Applicability to BIU V6 Commercial confirmed.

Cyclists’ facilities – Within toilet facilities - KBCN00050

To comply with the criteria for cyclist facilities, showers should not obstruct the use of other facilities. Where a shower is located in a room with a WC, this cannot be considered compliant, unless it can be unequivocally demonstrated that the WC is provided over-and-above the requirements of relevant standards or regulations for general and disabled WCs.

To ensure that there is no conflict between the use of general or disabled WCs and the use of cyclist facilities. 
25.10.18 KBCN reworded to improve clarity.
 

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging – Shared Parking for New Buildings, Extensions, and Phased Developments - KBCN1827

The required number of EV charging points must be based on the total number of parking spaces that serve the assessed building. This total includes both existing spaces and any new spaces associated with the project. Where parking is shared across a wider site, the “associated” number of spaces refers to the amount of parking the assessed building is expected to rely on for its occupants. A proportional allocation calculation must be used to determine this number. Example: If a project sits on a site with 1,000 shared spaces but the new building’s occupancy requires only 100 spaces, the EV requirement is calculated based on 100 spaces, not the full 1,000.
 
  1. General Requirements
    • Defining the parking that counts. Use a proportional allocation method to determine how many spaces in a shared car park are associated with the project.
    • Short-stay exclusion: Short-stay spaces with a maximum stay of 15 minutes (e.g., pick-up/drop-off bays) are excluded from the EV calculation.
    • EV Charging points location: EV charging points should be installed as close as possible to the building’s main entrance to ensure convenient access for the building users.
    • Existing infrastructure: Existing EV charging points in a shared car park can only be counted when:
      • They exceed the BREEAM requirement for the buildings they were originally installed to serve,
      • They meet current BREEAM requirements, and
      • They form part of the new project’s allocated parking.
    • No “legacy” exclusions: Existing parking spaces cannot be excluded simply because they predate the BREEAM assessment. If the spaces serve the assessed building, they are in scope.
    • Operational policy. It is recommended, but not mandatory, that building management implement operational measures (e.g., signage, permits, digital access controls) to help ensure that EV spaces are used by the intended building users.
  2. New Buildings on a Site or Extensions
    • Calculation basis for new buildings or extensions, EV requirements must be based on the total parking demand associated with the project, including both existing associated spaces and any new spaces created.
    • Proportional allocation formula
      • Determine the project’s share of the total site parking using either GIA or occupancy.
      • Allocated project parking = Total site parking × (Project GIA ÷ Total GIA), OR
      • Allocated project parking = Total site parking × (Project occupancy ÷ Total occupancy)
  3. Phased Development
    • Current Phase: The EV calculation should be based on the parking demand of the phase under assessment, including the existing infrastructure and any new parking spaces delivered in that phase.
    • Existing Infrastructure: EV charging provision installed in previous phases may count towards compliance where it meets the required threshold for the current phase
    • Future Phases: Provisions in future phases may be counted only if secured by a legally binding commitment (such as a signed contract or planning obligation) with a confirmed delivery timeline.

Electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) – Priority spaces - KBCN1429

The current criteria for EVCS do not address provision for priority spaces, such as those allocated to disabled use and car sharing. The assessor and design team should, therefore, take a pragmatic approach to this and, where the overall number of required EVCS permits, an appropriate proportion of these should be provided for priority spaces. This will not be deemed as 'double-counting' as the number of EVCS required should be considered independently of other requirements. The intent is that electric vehicle charging spaces are available to all building users (where possible).

Electric vehicle charging stations – Availability - KBCN1128

This option requires the number of electric vehicle recharging stations (EVCS) to be based on a percentage of the total car parking for the building. To meet compliance, the intent is that recharging stations be available to all building users, including customers and visitors. However, where overall parking numbers are low, it may be difficult to effectively distribute the EV charging spaces between general users and priority groups. In such cases, the design team must provide evidence that this aspect has been considered when locating the EV spaces, however, the decision on how to distribute these may be made by the client or, for speculative development, by an appropriate member of the design team. In situations where parking is limited to priority spaces only, the above guidance still applies. 
11 Jan 2023 - Applicability to BIU V6C confirmed
17 Sep 2022 - Updated to allow more flexibility in relation to how EV spaces are allocated

Electric vehicle charging stations – Short-term visitor spaces - KBCN1735

Where it can be demonstrated that parking spaces for visitors will only be used for short-term parking (a maximum of 15 minutes), these spaces can be excluded from the calculation for EV spaces. This exclusion will typically apply to certain types of retail outlet, where visitors are, for example, collecting or dropping off orders. However, other situations can be considered, where justified.

Hotels and other short stay accommodation – cycle storage unit of measure - KBCN0676

The cycle storage requirement for hotels and other short‑stay accommodation is 1 space per 10 staff. Guests or visitors staying at the hotel are excluded from the calculation. Where a hotel includes on‑site facilities such as conference spaces, restaurants, or gyms, visitors to these facilities should also be included in the cycle-storage calculation: 1 space per 10 guests. Specific Note for Refurbishment and Fit Out International 2015 Table 36 in the technical manual incorrectly refers to “1 staff and 1 visitor, or 1 bed.” Please ignore this error and follow the guidance above. 
16-Feb-2026 - Wording update to be applicable across multiple BREEAM Schemes
20-Oct-2025 - Guidance clarified and updated to align with all current BREEAM scheme guidance.
23-Jul-2018 Wording added to include clarification on what to base the calculation of cycle spaces on.
Technical manual to be updated accordingly in next re-issue.

ModeScore Sustainable Transport certification - KBCN1705

Achieving ModeScore Gold or Platinum certification can be submitted as part of the supporting documentation to award credits for implementing sustainable transport options, provided the BREEAM criteria were targeted, as follows:
Scheme Issues Credits
BREEAM International NC 2016 and V6 Tra 03a Alternative modes of transport 2 + Exemplary credit
Tra 03b Alternative modes of transport 2 + Exemplary credit
Tra 04 Maximum car parking capacity 1
BREEAM UK NC 2018 and V6 * Tra 02 Sustainable transport measures 10
BREEAM Int RFO 2015 Tra 01 Sustainable transport solutions 5
Tra 04 Maximum car parking capacity 2
BREEAM UK RFO 2014 Tra 01 Sustainable transport solutions 3
Tra 03 Cyclist facilities 2
Tra 04 Maximum car parking capacity 2
BREEAM In-Use Commercial and Residential (International and USA) Tra 01 Alternative modes of transport 8
Tra 02 Proximity to public transport 3
Tra 04 Pedestrian and cyclist safety 2
* BREEAM UK NC 2018 and V6 credits can be awarded provided the transportation assessment and travel plan (criterion 1) are met When the assessor submits a ModeScore certification as evidence, they should include their report and highlight the BREEAM criteria or credits that were targeted.
About ModeScore Sustainable Transport certification:
ModeScore assess and certify sustainable transport facilities and services in buildings. ModeScore encompasses ActiveScore within its assessment criteria, covering four pillars of sustainable transportation while incorporating accessibility into each: ModeScore evaluates the connectivity potential of any building in any location, offering four levels of certification with a total scorecard of 120 points. ActiveScore (Travel Facilities) counts for 10 points: See more information and details at https://modescore.com/
Information correct as of 18thApril 2026. Please see kb.breeam.com for the latest compliance information.