00 General

HQM evolves to BREEAM UK New Construction: Residential - KBCN1727

The benefits

BREEAM UK New Construction: Residential (UKNCR) V6.1 supersedes HQM V6 as the current BREEAM assessment for new homes in the UK. UKNCR retains the core technical robustness and quality focus of HQM while enhancing its alignment with the wider BREEAM framework. This update ensures that residential projects benefit from an integrated, science-based approach to sustainability that meets the evolving demands of the housing sector. This brings several key improvements:

Greater recognition and credibility – integrating with BREEAM strengthens trust in residential certification, making it easier to demonstrate compliance and attract investment.

More streamlined certification – aligning with BREEAM simplifies the process for developers, assessors and investors, reducing the need for additional explanations.

Enhanced policy and market alignment – supports evolving sustainability regulations and ESG expectations, ensuring easier adoption by authorities and financial institutions.

Stronger influence in UK housing development – a unified certification approach increases awareness and ensures consistency across the sector.

The certificate

UKNCR certificate’s format and branding will align with other BREEAM New Construction certificates. Each home will receive a certificate indicating:

An overall BREEAM rating and corresponding star rating

Individual indicator scores for: Cost, Wellbeing, and Footprint

The percentage scores required to achieve each rating level remain the same as in HQM V6. For further information, please see our FAQs.

The technical manual and assessment tools

UKNCR will have a new look across its:

Technical manual

Online assessment tool

Some spreadsheet tools

However, the following will remain consistent with HQM V6:

The technical manual layout

The technical criteria (aside from those listed in the Summary of Changes)

The scoring system, and score required to achieve each of the levels

Spreadsheet tools that do not require technical change

For access to all UKNCR V6.1 resources, please refer to BREEAM Projects.

Knowledge Base – Applicability of HQM KBCNs to UK New Construction: Residential V6.1 - KBCN1731

The assessment issues and criteria in BREEAM UKNCR V6.1 are broadly the same as HQM V6, except for the specific changes outlined in KBCN1723. We are now in the process of undertaking a comprehensive review of previous guidance on the Knowledge Base for HQM One and HQM V6 to determine its applicability to UKNCR, and the Knowledge Base will be updated in due course. In the meantime, if you wish to apply a previous KBCN, please review the changes outlined in KBCN1723 and compare the criteria in the technical manuals. If the criteria are the same, and you are satisfied that a previous HQM KBCN is relevant to UKNCR, you can follow this guidance. If there are differences in the UKNCR criteria, but you believe a previous HQM KBCN can be applied, please submit a technical query on the webform to confirm this.

Scheme classification for residential projects (UK) - KBCN1225

Choosing the right scheme for developments is the starting point to ensure successful outcomes and value, in terms of quality and sustainability to building owners and for occupants of the building. In light of the release of Home Quality Mark (HQM) ONE we have reviewed the existing guidance around scheme classifications of new build residential buildings and have removed ‘GN03 – Scheme Classification – Domestic buildings’ from BREEAM Projects. When GN03 was written, the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) did not fully consider communal areas within residential blocks as part of the assessment. CSH was also not applicable in Scotland. GN03 was developed to clarify the differences between BREEAM Multi-Residential, CSH and EcoHomes, and when each scheme should be applied. There is now a clearer distinction between BREEAM Multi-residential and HQM and when these should be used. Ultimately, the determining factor for a scheme classification is now focused on the intent of the building and who is going to be the end user (as opposed to previous guidance which considered aspects such as percentage of communal areas, etc.). Broadly, if the building’s main purpose is for long term homes then Home Quality Mark is the correct scheme to use. Please use the following as guidance to identify the most appropriate scheme: UKNCR / Home Quality Mark (HQM) HQM has been designed with the occupant in mind. It assesses homes individually, but can also account for common areas associated with blocks of self-contained homes. HQM outputs (rating and indicators e.g. ‘my cost’, ‘my wellbeing’ and ‘my footprint’) are specifically aimed at those living in the home and are designed to better inform the occupant about the benefits of the home that they are purchasing or renting. An HQM project will meet one or more of the following criteria: Be designed to meet the function of a long-term self-contained home even though there may be some provision of communal facilities which can be used on a voluntary basis Be classified under Building regulations Part L1a (i.e. required to complete SAP assessments, although there may be some linked SBEM assessed spaces associated with the project) As such, HQM projects could be homes for sale, social housing or homes for rent (PRS and Built to Rent). They may also include some student and retirement/sheltered accommodation where the units are comparable to a normal self-contained flat/home. BREEAM Multi-residential For the purposes of BREEAM Multi-residential assessments, the term ‘multi-residential’ is used in the context of buildings that contain rooms for residential purposes alongside communal facilities for catering, leisure, care etc. These residential rooms would normally not have the full, self-contained functions of a home. This scheme usually covers more specialist residential care homes, student halls of residence, and other more communal accommodation. The scheme can cater for a small number of self-contained dwellings where these form part of a larger multi-residential development (e.g. on-site warden homes etc.). Under this scheme, the project is assessed on a whole building basis and as such does not seek to reflect the performance of individual residential units/rooms. A BREEAM Multi-residential project will meet one or more of the following criteria: Be provided for transient /non-permanent occupants Provide suitable accommodation for occupants requiring support from carers, wardens or similar Include shared living spaces Be classified under Building regulations Part L2a (i.e. required to complete SBEM assessments, but can account for some SAP assessed spaces where associated with the project) As a rule of thumb, if the building contains rooms rather than self-contained flats or homes, a BREEAM Multi-residential assessment would probably be most appropriate. We are aware of some confusion over the meaning of the term ‘multi-residential’ in this context and will be considering the use of term as part of the next review of the BREEAM Multi-Residential scheme. If you are unsure of the appropriate scheme classification for a particular project, please contact the BREEAM office before registering the project.

11-Nov-2025 - Applicability to current UKNC, HQM and UKNCR confirmed

Summary of Changes – UK New Construction: Residential V6.1 - KBCN1723

UK New Construction: Residential V6.1 (UKNCR) is an update to the Home Quality Mark V6 (HQM V6). It includes a minor technical update, addressing key feedback from our HQM assessors, and the broader market. The technical manual was released on 16 April 2025. The updates are limited in scope, with the main changes in:

4.2 Natural light (previously 4.2 Daylight)

6.2 Building life cycle assessment (previously 6.2 Environmental Impact of Materials)

All assessment issues - updated evidence guidance

There are minor changes and clarifications in:

1.2 Sustainable Transport Options

4.1 Indoor Pollutants

4.3 Noise Sources

4.4 Sound Insulation

4.5 Temperature

9.3 Inspections and Completion

11.2 Home information

11.4 Post Occupancy Evaluation

The update also includes corrections throughout the manual for minor known issues and typographical errors in HQM V6. The below table summarises the changes made:

Issue	Description of update
1.2 Sustainable Transport Options	- Updated ‘Cycle storage’ definition has replaced 'Cycle storage requirements' definition
4.1 Indoor Pollutants	Updated ‘Representative sampling of indoor air’ methodology item. Updated ‘Minimising airborne formaldehyde, and airborne TVOCs, from all sources – calculation method’ methodology item, to clarify use of BS ISO 16000-6:2021 VOCs in air by active sampling. Clarified Methodology items ‘Accreditation of organisations performing laboratory analysis’ and ‘Accreditation of organisations performing sampling’.
4.2 Natural Light	This issue has been substantially rewritten, and extensive changes have been introduced. Changes in issue name Issue is now called ‘Natural light’ Changes to criteria (new) - 4 credits – Daylight illuminance (Kitchens) - 4 credits - Daylight illuminance (Living rooms) - 2 credits - Daylight illuminance (Bedrooms) - 3 credits – Direct sunlight Methodological changes Daylight is now assessed using the target illuminance metric rather than the previous daylight factor metric. Bedrooms are now considered in the daylight assessment. And a new direct sunlight metric has been introduced. This updates the natural light methodology in line with current best practice.
4.3 Noise Sources	Updated Methodology item, ‘Internal noise levels – habitable spaces and kitchens’.
4.4 Sound Insulation	Clarified criteria 1 requirements for communal areas and co-living buildings. Updated ‘Suitably Qualified Acoustician (SQA)’ definition.
4.5 Temperature	- Clarified ‘Projected climate change environment’ methodology item, to clearly identify the DSY weather data files that should be used.
4.6 Ventilation	- Updated criteria 7 reference to ANC Guidelines Measurement Of Sound Levels in Buildings 2020.
5.1 Energy and Carbon Performance	- Removed reference to SAP XML files in the methodology section.
6.2 Building Life Cycle Assessment	This issue has been substantially rewritten, and extensive changes have been introduced. Issue name - Issue now called ‘Building life cycle assessment’. No changes - 2 credits – Product procurement policy. - Up to 4 credits – Product environmental information. New criteria - 3 credits – Early design LCA and embodied carbon reporting. - 2 credits - Technical-design and embodied carbon reporting LCA. - 4 credits - Post-construction LCA and embodied carbon reporting. - Up to 8 credits - Comparison against the embodied carbon benchmarks. - 2 credits - Submit embodied carbon data to a public database. Methodological changes The new methodology includes calculations and reporting of LCA and embodied carbon at building level during concept design, technical design, and post-construction stage. The calculations must still be completed with a BREEAM recognised LCA tool following EN15978. The credits for different life cycle stages can be achieved independently of one another (i.e. if you do not target the concept design credit you can still target the technical design credit). Changes to the benchmark The benchmark comparison credits have been changed to align with industry standards. This is now at building level (not dwelling level). It includes modules A1-A5, B1-B5, C1-C4 and is in measured in kgCO₂e/m². Clarification of Evidence Requirements Clarification of evidence requirements across all stages.
6.3 Life Cycle Costing	- Clarified that, for criterion 2, reports must be available to potential owners, rather than occupiers.
9.1 Project Preparation	- Included a post-construction column in the ‘Schedule of evidence requirements’ table.
9.2 Commissioning and Testing	- Updated Table 55 to refer to ‘EAS (Elmhurst Airtightness Scheme)’.
9.3 Inspections and Completion	- Updated criterion 1 to confirm the relationship to the ‘Construction inspections scope’ Methodology item, and Table 55. - Clarified where criteria relate to potential owners, rather than occupiers.
10.1 Responsible construction practices	- Clarified items p and q in Table 57.
11.2 Home information	- Updated criterion 1 and the ‘Accessible and flexible format’ definition to clarify the requirement for hard copies of home information.
11.4 Post Occupancy Evaluation	- Introduced ‘Sample of homes’ Methodology item, confirming how homes can be sampled for this issue.
Appendix A	Updated indicator scores for the following issues, to reflect changes made to the criteria for these issues: - 4.2 Natural Light. - 6.2 Building life cycle assessment.
Appendix C	Updated text to reflect changes made to Evidence Tables across all issues.
All	Updated evidence guidance for all assessment issues '- Additional guidance on evidence requirements has been added to all assessment issues, in line with the recent improvements to BREEAM UK New Construction 2018 and Version 6.1.

15 April 2025  - Updated to reflect the latest changes prior to release

UKNC: Residential (HQM) / UKNC: Residential V6.1 /