The differences between BREEAM Refurbishment & Fit-Out vs New Construction

In today’s blog, we explore the differences between BREEAM Refurbishment & Fit-Out vs New Construction and clarify which scheme your project will be assessed under.

The BREEAM assessment scope

The BREEAM assessment scope is at the core of the distinction between these two schemes. BREEAM New Construction (NC) is designed to assess newly built projects, encompassing the performance of the entire site and building. It covers everything from the building fabric and structural elements to the transport links and ecological impacts.

On the other hand, BREEAM Refurbishment & Fit-Out offers a more tailored  approach for refurbishment and fit-out projects. As Nathan Kempson, our Senior Sustainability Consultant, explains: “Refurbishment & Fit-Out covers certain elements from four parts of the assessment (fabric and structure, core services, local services, and internal fit-out) depending on the scope and depth of the fit-out being undertaken. It’s designed to be more flexible than NC, so you can tailor the scheme to your specific refurbishment project scope.”

Approach and complexity

This difference in scope naturally influences the overall approach and complexity of each scheme. Because New Construction covers the entire site and building, the assessments are typically more comprehensive and more stringent, encompassing a wide range of elements such as transport accessibility, ecological enhancement and land use. 

However, the refurbishment and fit-out sustainability certification can be more proportionate to the work you are undertaking. As Nathan notes, “Refurbishment & Fit-Out lets you tailor the approach to your project, so if it’s only an internal fit-out, then you can exclude elements like site-wide ecology credits in certain circumstances.” This means that you won’t be penalised for factors out of your control and can focus your time and effort into obtaining the credits that matter most to your project.

Evidence requirements and assessment timelines

Another key difference between the two schemes is the level of evidence required, and the time it takes to complete the assessment. Due to the broader scope, BREEAM New Construction requires a more extensive evidence base. You’ll need to submit detailed design documentation, modelling outputs, and construction-stage verification across multiple disciplines, which will increase the length of the assessment period.

By contrast, BREEAM refurbishment projects are usually quicker to certify. As Nathan states, “BREEAM Fit-Out can be quite quick and is less complex in nature due to the ability to tailor to the fit-out works, making it arguably easier to gain credits under Refurbishment than NC.” This is ideal if you’re working to a tighter deadline, or if you’re pursuing certification while the building is already occupied.    

Sustainability opportunities

While both schemes aim to drive better environmental performance, they prioritise different types of opportunities. New Construction projects achieve performance levels that go beyond Building Regulations, with a strong emphasis on site-wide sustainability, responsible material sourcing, and long-term operational efficiency. Therefore, you’ll need to make important decisions around orientation, building fabric and M & E strategy, and infrastructure during the early design stages.

On the other hand, BREEAM Refurbishment & Fit-Out concentrates on optimising and improving existing assets. Nathan summarises this clearly: “Refurbishment tends to look at re-use and improvement of the internal environment, and the energy efficiency improvements following the refurbishment. This makes total sense, as the scheme is generally more internally-focused.” 

BREEAM New Construction vs. Refurbishment & Fit-Out: a quick comparison

The future

It’s important to note that the BREEAM Refurbishment & Fit‑Out assessment is currently being operated against an older version of the scheme (BREEAM 2014). However, BRE has advised that an updated version is expected to be released in 2026, which will align the existing methodology more closely with BREEAM v7 standards. This forthcoming update will inevitably make the scheme more robust and reflective of current best practice – more on this to come.

At Encon Associates, we offer a comprehensive range of BREEAM assessment schemes, including BREEAM Refurbishment & Fit-Out and BREEAM New Construction. Our expert assessors have 18+ years of experience in conducting BREEAM assessments for all building types, offering helpful support and guidance throughout the entire process. We’re exceptionally proud to have never missed a targeted rating and will ensure that every aspect of your project meets the criteria for certification.

Get in touch to begin your journey to BREEAM certification.