Between April and August this year the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (the Standard) Pilot version was applied to 205 projects.
Their experience, and the feedback they have given, is influencing Version 1 of the Standard to make it prepared for market.
In September 2024 the Pilot Version of the Standard was published. Subsequently in April 2025 the Standard’s Pilot Testing Programme commenced, with 205 projects, from 134 owners taking part.
The Pilot Testing was open for applications from all buildings within the UK, encompassing a wide range of typologies and sectors. Participants were invited to include projects at various stages of development - from early design through to post construction. The projects submitted included both best performing and typical representative buildings, even if these were not expected to meet the ambition of the Standard.
Image: 1 Ancoats Green - Buttress
Pilot Participants were signed up to test the process of applying the Standard to live buildings and projects. Pilot buildings included: King Charles III Sacristy at Westminster Abbey; Hamilton House, a Grade II Listed heritage office building for Dorrington; Lyde Green School for South Gloucestershire Council; Theatr Clwyd in Flintshire; Postal Street Housing for Manchester City Council; and logistics hubs for Greenbox and Panattoni UK. The Pilot Testing process was focussed on testing the usability and clarity of the Standard in practice, as well as the industry’s level of readiness to adopt it. The Standard’s verification methodology is not yet available, so none of these projects have yet achieved verification, but their participation has supported the Standard to test and streamline its process, ready for projects to sign up for verification once it is launched early next year.
During the four month Pilot Testing, participants trialled applying the standard on their projects, and throughout this process took part in an in-depth technical survey and structured technical forums, in which they engaged directly with the Standard’s Technical Steering Group. Participants also had access to self governing peer-to-peer groups to facilitate knowledge sharing and support collaborative problem solving. The process was used to gather feedback and experiences of applying the Standard to buildings across a full range of sectors and building types.
Amrita Dasgupta Shekhar, Head of ESG and Net Zero at Greengage Environmental, who ran the Pilot Testing Programme: “The Pilot demonstrated that a single industry standard for defining and verifying net zero carbon buildings is both necessary and workable in practice. Engagement across the sector showed a strong understanding of credible performance and highlighted specific refinements needed for Version 1.
“Participants viewed the Standard as ambitious but essential to the real estate sector’s net zero transition. The findings emphasised the importance of high quality data in an evidence-based approach, cost effectiveness for adoption at the required scale, clear communication of progress at practical completion, and well-defined responsibility boundaries to support achievability. Addressing these factors positions the UKNZCBS to provide a trusted basis for assessing progress across the built environment.”
Although the Pilot Testing has formally concluded, the work hasn’t stopped there. The feedback from Pilot Testing, and feedback received directly on the Pilot Version, is being incorporated into Version 1, ensuring the Standard reflects the real-world insights shared with us. The Pre-Launch Update goes into more detail on the changes being incorporated in response to this feedback.
New annexes will be published as part of Version 1 of the Standard on: Delineation, Deeming to Satisfy’ (formerly known as ‘Equivalence’), and an optional validity check at Practical Completion. The standard’s section on Verification will also be fully updated to detail the process, and how users will be able to communicate their Net Zero Carbon Aligned status.
The Update also draws attention to some supporting resources that are planned for publication alongside Version 1. This includes Guidance for Existing and Heritage Buildings, Guidance for the legal profession on how to incorporate the Standard into contracts, and further graphics and videos to support understanding and use of the Standard.
While the main aim of the Pilot Testing was to collect detailed feedback on the process of applying the Standard to buildings, Pilot Participants also reported wider benefits that they experienced from applying the Standard to their internal processes. These included measurable outcomes and understanding of how to deliver net zero carbon buildings throughout the stages of the project. Application of the Standard included enhanced credibility, improved investor confidence, better design and stronger collaboration.
