Updated Green Lease Toolkit

On 29 January 2024 the Better Buildings Partnership (BBP) launched its updated Green Lease Toolkit – a practical tool to support the commercial real estate industry to achieve higher sustainability standards.

BBP note that the online toolkit contains 'legal clauses in nearly 20 key areas, covering topics such as building management, circular economy, waste and renewable energy'.

BPP  highlight the toolkit's dynamic approach which 'offers suggested drafting variations categorized as "light", "medium" or "dark", accommodating users at various stages of their green leasing journey'. The Toolkit also introduces a new Green Lease Essentials section 'outlining a vision for minimum expectations on what green leases should include.'

Simmons & Simmons partner Ali Crosthwaite and supervising associate Jemima Peck were part of the Green Lease Toolkit Legal Working Group alongside lawyers from BCLP, CMS, Dentons, Pinsent Masons and The Chancery Lane Project. 

Ali commented:

'The BBP's Green Lease Toolkit has been an essential resource since its publication in 2013.  It has been a privilege to play a part in the project to update the Toolkit to reflect the increased ambition to accelerate a just transition that we are seeing across our sector.'

Jemima noted:

'Green leases present a great opportunity for collaboration between owners and occupiers to meet one of the biggest challenges facing society. It has been fantastic to assist the BBP with this project to provide guidance to landlords and tenants on how they might make their agreements work in a way which will drive sustainability in the real estate industry.'

You can access and read more about the toolkit here.