New and amended environmental performance requirements for buildings

For whom?

• construction companies
• project developers
• property developers
• architects
• entrepreneurs commissioning new-build projects

What has changed?

Do you work in construction, project development, or property development? As of 1 July 2026 the requirements for the environmental performance of buildings (Milieuprestatie-eisen voor gebouwen, MPG) have changed. The government has tightened the existing requirements, and introduced an environmental performance requirement for several types of building.

The main changes are:

• The environmental performance requirement for office buildings will be tightened
• Schools, shops, care institutions, and industrial buildings will be subject to an environmental performance requirement for the first time.
• For small homes and some offices the environmental performance requirements will be less stringent.
• The calculation method for the environmental performance for buildings will change. It will use 19 environmental categories instead of 11.

When?

The changes in the Decree on construction works in the living environment (Besluit bouwwerken leefomgeving, Bbl) and the Environment and Planning Regulations has taken effect on 1 July 2026.