Major update confirms UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard on course for 2026 launch

Version one of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (UKNZCBS) – the UK’s first national framework for defining net zero carbon aligned buildings – is on track to launch in early 2026, according to the latest snapshot report from the Standard’s Technical Steering Group⁽¹⁾.

The new update confirmed that participant feedback from the Standard’s Pilot Testing Programme, which took place between March and August 2025, is being incorporated into the first version of the Standard before its release.

The programme saw more than 200 real-world projects measured against the pilot Standard to test its real-world applicability.

Representatives from a range of organisations, including contractors, consultancies and councils, also reported on its application via a 90-question survey, peer-to-peer groups and technical forums, the results of which have been summarised in the new update.

Key findings show the majority of participants deemed the Standard’s numerical caps on certain carbon emissions to be feasible.

67% of 106 survey respondents said the limits for upfront embodied carbon in new works were achievable.

More than two-thirds of 145 participants also approved the limit on upfront embodied carbon for on-site renewables while 65% of 115 respondents reported the same for the Standard’s limit on operational energy in new buildings.

Reacting to the update, James Fiske, BCIS executive director, said: ‘The UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard is one of the most crucial cogs in the built environment’s decarbonisation. It is quite literally the shared blueprint for reducing emissions in new projects and will hopefully serve as a catalyst for other urgent actions, such as raising the quality of carbon data in the UK.

‘Piloting has demonstrated the Standard’s applicability in the real world. Akin to other industry tools, such as the Built Environment Carbon Database, it will continue to evolve to ensure it remains accessible and its criteria feasible. That’s ultimately the goal – to create data and tools that standardise and simplify how we cut carbon.’

While largely positive, feedback on the pilot Standard also highlighted certain compliance challenges.

For instance, more than one-third of respondents said they wouldn’t be able to gather and submit all material quantities as required by certain sections of the Standard relating to embodied carbon.

Another pre-launch update to signpost the upcoming contents of version one of the Standard is due in January 2026, ahead of its publication.

The latest update followed new developments to the Built Environment Carbon Database and the BCIS Life Cycle Evaluator earlier in 2025, as well as the release of a milestone report from AECOM in July on measuring and reducing embodied carbon in new buildings.

The latter’s recommendations included developing a national carbon dataset, upskilling built environment professionals to capitalise on carbon reduction opportunities, and standardising whole life carbon assessments.

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^{(1) UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard- The Pilot Version of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard  - here}