Sustainable and cost-effective: BREEAM Excellent distribution centre for LCP Nivelles DC

Improving sustainability without letting costs spiral out of control

Logistics Capital Partners (LCP) is a leading European developer of high-quality logistics real estate. For its Belgian entity, LCP Nivelles DC NV, the company developed a strategically located 34,000 m² distribution centre at the intersection of the E19 and E42 motorways.

The ambition was clear: to create a building that was not only operationally robust but also demonstrably sustainable, ensuring its long-term attractiveness to international tenants with increasingly demanding ESG requirements.

Achieving BREEAM Excellent certification was a key objective, but without allowing construction costs to escalate unnecessarily. This presented a significant challenge. BREEAM certification requires compliance with more than 90 sustainability criteria across areas such as energy, materials, health and ecology. Without a structured approach, valuable credits could be lost, costly redesigns might become necessary, and sustainability investments could fail to deliver their full value.

LCP therefore sought a partner capable of structuring, optimising and monitoring the certification process, ensuring that sustainability became a strategic asset rather than a cost burden.

Maximising value through a phased BREEAM approach

Encon supported LCP throughout the entire process, from feasibility assessment to final certification, translating the sustainability ambition into a measurable, achievable and cost-effective BREEAM strategy.

The process started with a comprehensive BREEAM Scan, assessing the technical feasibility of each credit within the proposed design. Based on this analysis, we developed an optimisation study that evaluated the cost impact, technical feasibility and score contribution of each measure. This enabled LCP to focus investments exclusively on credits that delivered tangible value.

The BREEAM Work Scope demonstrates how LCP strategically selected a range of Health & Wellbeing credits that were both achievable and impactful. These measures directly enhance the user experience while contributing significantly to the overall BREEAM score.

Examples include compliance with best-practice standards for indoor and outdoor lighting, as well as achieving more than 50% natural daylight penetration through additional glazing and optimisation of façade openings.

These credits were particularly attractive because they required minimal architectural changes, avoided costly redesigns and delivered substantial improvements in occupant comfort.

Encon provided full technical and administrative support throughout the project, including lighting studies, daylight simulations, floor plan analyses, photographic evidence, on-site quality control and coordination with the design and construction teams. As a result, the targeted credits were successfully achieved.

A BREEAM Excellent asset delivering value for users, investors and tenants

The targeted investment strategy and structured guidance resulted in a BREEAM Excellent-certified distribution centre that combines sustainability performance with economic value.

High levels of natural daylight, optimised lighting, visual comfort and a healthy indoor environment contribute to lower operational costs and higher occupant satisfaction. The building is also future-proof, meeting the highest sustainability standards expected by the market.

By focusing investments on credits with demonstrated value, unnecessary expenditure was avoided and the project's financial viability was strengthened. At the same time, continuous guidance minimised failure costs, redesigns and documentation risks throughout the certification process.

Today, the distribution centre stands out as a premium ESG asset, attractive to international logistics tenants, investors and stakeholders who place sustainability at the centre of their decision-making.