NHS England publish world's first Net Zero Building Standard

We are pleased to announce that the NHS' first Net Zero Building Standard has now been published.

This technical guidance will support the development of sustainable, resilient, and energy efficient buildings that meet the needs of patients now and in the future.

The NHS Net Zero Building Standard, provides technical guidance to support the development of sustainable, resilient, and energy efficient buildings that meet the needs of patients now and in the future.

Developed together with healthcare, industry, and sustainability partners, the Standard will support the NHS in getting ready for and aligning with UK Government building requirements, as well as meeting its commitments to deliver a net zero health service by 2045. The NHS became the world’s first health service to commit to becoming net zero in response to the profound threat to health presented by climate change.

While the approach to managing whole life carbon in the Standard is relevant to all healthcare buildings, the Standard will apply to all investments in new buildings and upgrades to existing facilities that are subject to HM Treasury business case approval process and are at pre-strategic outline business case approval stage from 1 October 2023 onwards. This will result in reduced carbon emissions and incremental improvements in the NHS building stock, ensuring consistency, standardisation, and equity across the NHS estate over time. 

The Standard will be periodically updated in collaboration with NHS organisations, partners, and suppliers, to ensure it remains current and relevant, as technology and modern methods of construction advance and evolve.

The Standard can be downloaded here and Square Gain is currently developing aa suite of complementary training which is due for publication soon.

It's been a pleasure working on this with a great team from NHS England, Mott MacDonald, Archus & Square Gain - particular shout-out to Fiona Daly MSc, Michael Waithe, Rebecca Stubbs, Ian Poole, Greg Poole, Jonathan Monkcom, Marika Gabbianelli, Amedeo Mocchiutti, Chris Turner, Wider thanks to all those who consulted and collaborated to make this happen: RIBA, The Institution of Structural Engineers, UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), Institution of Mechanical Engineers, IHEEM (The Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management), RICS, and many others involved in the consultation process - a HUGE thank-you!