A Year of Leadership, Innovation and Impact: Mainer Associates’ Review of the Year
The past year has been a defining one for Mainer Associates. Across the UK and beyond, the built environment has faced mounting pressure to respond to the climate emergency, evolving regulation, and increasing demand for transparency, accountability and performance.
Throughout this period of rapid change, Mainer Associates has continued to lead from the front – shaping policy, delivering award-winning projects, advancing whole life carbon thinking, and supporting clients to achieve ambitious sustainability outcomes.
From landmark certifications and major project completions to thought leadership, digital innovation and industry-wide change, this year has reinforced our position as a trusted sustainability consultancy at the forefront of low‑carbon construction.
What follows is a review of the highlights, achievements and milestones that defined the year for Mainer Associates.
Driving Industry-Wide Change in BREEAM
Perhaps the most far‑reaching achievement of the year came in October, when Mainer Associates successfully drove a fundamental change to the way BREEAM Design Stage Assessments are undertaken. After nearly five years of collaboration and advocacy with the Building Research Establishment (BRE), updated guidance under BREEAM V7 now aligns design stage assessments with the principles of the Building Safety Act and the ‘Golden Thread’ of information.
This change ensures that BREEAM requirements are embedded within procurement contracts, strengthening accountability and improving delivery outcomes across the industry. With over 45 years of collective BREEAM experience, Mainer Associates has once again demonstrated how independent expertise can shape policy and deliver sector‑wide benefits.
Why this matters
By formalising the use of contractual clauses, BREEAM has evolved from a design review tool into a procurement-integrated compliance framework. This not only enhances accountability but also aligns sustainability assessment with legal, commercial, and safety governance structures.
For clients and contractors, this means greater certainty and reduced risk when targeting BREEAM ratings. For assessors, it provides clearer pathways to early-stage certification and a more robust audit trail during project delivery.
Innovation Through CarbonCentric
Innovation remained central to our approach, particularly through the continued development and deployment of CarbonCentric – our consultant‑designed app for real‑time embodied carbon management. Used on projects such as South Cambridge Science Centre and The Republic, CarbonCentric enables earlier data capture, stronger supply chain engagement and more informed decision‑making.
By shifting carbon management from a retrospective exercise to a proactive design and construction tool, CarbonCentric has already helped projects achieve reductions of up to 392 kg CO₂e/m², demonstrating the power of timely, high‑quality data.
Tracking carbon across construction projects doesn’t have to be complex.
CarbonCentric gives contractors and consultants real-time visibility across the supply chain, enabling smarter decisions early in the process.
✅ 969 kg CO₂e/m² already saved across completed projects
✅ Live dashboard
✅ Seamless subcontractor data capture
From ESG compliance to embodied carbon tracking, CarbonCentric makes managing sustainability simple, scalable, and measurable.
Click the link to view our CarbonCentric brochure
CarbonCentric - The Carbon Management App
Raising the Bar on Environmental Product Declarations
The year began with a strong focus on Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), reinforcing their growing importance in sustainable construction. Mainer Associates continued to champion verified, high-quality environmental data, emphasising that EPDs only deliver real value when they are independently verified and aligned with recognised standards.
Our work with City Concepts exemplified this approach. After a year of close collaboration, City Concepts successfully achieved EPD verification for their systems – a significant milestone in their ambition to become the most sustainable office glazing partition system on the market.
Our role went far beyond technical modelling. Drawing on deep expertise in sustainability, construction and supply chain management, we delivered a comprehensive suite of EPDs that provided measurable, trusted data while supporting innovation and greener construction practices. This achievement highlighted the value of collaboration, robust methodology and verified data in driving meaningful environmental progress.
Alongside project delivery, we continued to share insight through thought leadership, exploring the role of EPDs in achieving net zero across the built environment. With buildings responsible for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, we have consistently demonstrated how transparent product data underpins informed decision‑making and accelerates progress toward net-zero goals.
BIOS Building, Teesside University
Award-Winning Performance and Outstanding Certifications
One of the year’s standout achievements was the certification of the BIOS Building at Teesside University as BREEAM Outstanding – the highest possible rating under the scheme. Working in partnership with Wates Construction, Mainer Associates delivered both the BREEAM assessment and a comprehensive Whole Life Carbon Assessment (WLCA) for this state‑of‑the‑art facility.
Our WLCA quantified embodied carbon at every RIBA stage, benchmarking performance against an ambitious target of 750 kg CO₂e/m² and ultimately achieving an impressive 698 kg CO₂e/m². This result demonstrated how early engagement, rigorous analysis and carbon‑led design can deliver exceptional outcomes without compromising quality or function.
Industry Recognition…again!
Mainer Associates were shortlisted for Consultancy Team of the Year at the Insider Media Property Awards North West for the second year running. Being recognised alongside some of the UK’s leading consultancies was a proud moment for the team and a testament to the consistency, quality and impact of our work.
Influencing Planning, Policy and Sustainable Design
As sustainability becomes increasingly embedded within UK planning policy, Mainer Associates has remained at the forefront of helping clients navigate evolving regulatory frameworks.
Throughout the year, we explored how sustainability is no longer an optional consideration but a fundamental requirement in planning decisions, with local authorities increasingly setting clear benchmarks for carbon reduction, energy efficiency and circular economy principles.
Some updates included:
The UK Net Zero carbon Buildings Standard, due for release early 2026 - will mark a major milestone in defining and verifying what it truly means for buildings to be Net Zero Carbon Aligned.
Click to read our BREEAM v7 article
A new version of the UK’s leading sustainability standard is launching in 2026, and it’s set to shape the future of how we design, deliver, and operate buildings.
BREEAM v7 brings a stronger focus on real-world energy use, whole-life carbon, and clearer evidence requirements, raising the bar for achieving top ratings like Excellent or Outstanding.
We continue to support our clients across sectors to respond confidently to these changes, ensuring their sustainability strategies were aligned with policy expectations from the outset and embedded throughout design and delivery.
Major Developments and Landmark Projects
This year saw progress on a series of high-profile developments across the UK, with Mainer Associates providing whole life carbon, planning and certification expertise on some of the country’s most ambitious schemes.
In Manchester, planning approval was granted for Glenbrook’s 44‑storey residential tower on Whitworth Street West. Designed by Sheppard Robson, the landmark scheme will deliver 364 homes alongside generous amenity space, with Mainer providing WLCA, planning support and BREEAM UK New Construction: Residential services.
Also in Manchester, Landsec appointed Bowmer & Kirkland as main contractor for The Republic at Mayfield – a 233,000 sq ft office development targeting best‑in‑class sustainability performance. Mainer Associates was appointed to deliver whole life carbon management using our in‑house CarbonCentric platform, reinforcing our role in shaping low‑carbon outcomes on complex, large‑scale projects.
Practical Completions Across Education and Life Sciences
June marked a particularly strong period of delivery, with multiple projects reaching practical completion. The South Cambridge Science Centre, a 130,000 sq ft life sciences hub targeting BREEAM Excellent and EPC A, was completed by Bowmer & Kirkland. Mainer Associates played a key role in managing embodied carbon by work package using CarbonCentric, engaging directly with subcontractors to influence carbon performance before materials arrived on site.
At Teesside University, the new £40m Digital Life Building also reached completion. Designed to support cutting‑edge education in digital media, AI, robotics and games design, the building reflects the future of learning environments. Mainer Associates delivered both WLCA and BREEAM services for Wates Group, strengthening our long‑standing partnership and reinforcing our expertise in higher education projects.
Digital Life Building, Teesside University
Recognition for Residential Excellence
In July, Soho Yard at West Bar Sheffield was named Residential Development of the Year at the Insider Media South Yorkshire Property Dinner. Part of a transformative masterplan for the city, the scheme delivers 368 build‑to‑rent homes designed around community, quality and sustainability.
Mainer Associates supported the project team by delivering Home Quality Mark (HQM) Level 4, ensuring that sustainability performance is maintained throughout the building’s lifecycle. The judges described the scheme as transformational for Sheffield – recognition that reflects the value of embedding sustainability into residential development from day one.
Advancing Knowledge and Professional Expertise
Developing people and strengthening expertise remained a core priority throughout the year. In September, we celebrated significant professional milestones as team members achieved Whole Life Carbon Assessment certification in line with RICS standards, following extensive CPD commitment.
This took 140 hours of CPD and means our clients can now benefit from an even higher level of expertise - ensuring more accurate, rigorous, and impactful carbon insights across all project stages, including:
• Improved confidence in embodied carbon results
• Enhanced transparency and accountability for clients
• Better alignment with net-zero goals and sustainability benchmarks
This achievement enhances the value we offer clients, providing greater confidence, transparency and rigour in embodied carbon assessments and supporting alignment with net‑zero benchmarks at every project stage.
Looking Ahead with Confidence
The year concluded with new appointments and future‑focused projects, including work at 88 Royal Mint Street in London and the transformational redevelopment of Harrogate College – a centre dedicated to green technology, future skills and sustainable excellence.
As we look ahead, this year stands as a powerful reflection of what Mainer Associates represents: technical excellence, independent thinking, collaboration, and a relentless commitment to improving the sustainability of the built environment. From shaping national frameworks to delivering practical, measurable outcomes on site, we are proud of what has been achieved – and even more excited about what comes next.
Together with our clients and partners, we remain committed to turning ambition into action and leading the transition to a genuinely low‑carbon future.
“ As we close out 2025, I’m proud of the role Mainer Associates has played in helping drive meaningful progress across the built environment sector.
This year has seen us actively supporting and facilitating important developments alongside BRE and RICS, reinforcing our commitment to industry leadership and collaboration.
We’ve also continued to invest heavily in research and development, particularly in carbon management practices. Through CarbonCentric by Mainer, we’re enabling clients to make practical, measurable reductions in Whole Life Carbon - turning ambition into action.
Looking ahead to 2026, we’re excited to be launching CarbonCentric V2, alongside the onboarding of new and forward-thinking projects that will further accelerate carbon reduction across the sector. “
Ben Wells
Managing Director
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