Winvic whitepaper calls for net zero building standards in regulations

Winvic Construction has launched a new ESG whitepaper at UKREiiF 2026 calling for greater regulatory alignment to support the adoption of net zero carbon building standards across the UK property and construction sectors.

The whitepaper, titled From Commitment to Compliance: Why the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard Needs Regulatory Backing, focuses on the recently launched UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (UKNZCBS) and examines how government, planning authorities, investors and developers can accelerate implementation.

Arun Thaneja, Technical Services and Sustainability Director at Winvic, says: "The publication of this whitepaper marks a defining moment for the built environment sector. With the launch of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard, the industry now has a credible and consistent framework to measure real operational performance, but turning ambition into measurable impact at scale will require far greater alignment across policy, regulation and delivery.”

Published in partnership with The Policy Liaison Group on Environmental, Social and Governance, the report argues that while the industry now has the technical capability and frameworks required to deliver net zero carbon aligned buildings, wider adoption will depend on clearer policy and regulatory support.

Drawing on contributions from organisations across development, planning, sustainability and construction, the report concludes that regulatory alignment is now the most significant factor in enabling consistent market-wide adoption of operational net zero standards.

Key recommendations include integrating the UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard (UKNZCBS)  into national planning and regulatory frameworks, mandating operational performance verification and improving consistency across ESG and carbon reporting requirements.

The report also highlights the need for financial and investment structures to align more closely with verified carbon performance outcomes, reflecting growing pressure from occupiers, investors and policymakers for measurable sustainability performance rather than target-based commitments alone.

Contributors to the paper include representatives from UK Green Building Council, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Building Research Establishment, Chartered Institute of Building and Royal Town Planning Institute, alongside developers, consultants and local authorities.

The publication was formally launched during UKREiiF as part of Winvic’s wider programme of discussions and events focused on sustainability, planning reform and low-carbon development across sectors including logistics, data centres and build-to-rent.