The UK built environment sector is increasingly influenced by global sustainability standards as international investors, multinational occupiers, and ESG-focused funds shape project requirements. Although BREEAM remains the most widely used certification system in the UK, LEED continues to be specified for developments that require international benchmarking, portfolio-level consistency, or alignment with US-based corporate sustainability policies. As a result, LEED consultancy in the UK is a specialist service that demands both international certification expertise and a strong understanding of local regulations and delivery processes.
This article presents a new and distinct overview of leading LEED consultants operating in the UK, focusing on technical competence, sector experience, and consultancy structure.
The Role of LEED Consultancy in the UK Market
LEED certification in the UK is typically pursued on projects with international exposure, such as commercial headquarters, healthcare campuses, logistics facilities, and mixed-use developments backed by overseas capital. Consultants must interpret USGBC requirements within the context of UK Building Regulations, planning conditions, energy performance methodologies, and procurement practices.
Effective LEED consultancy therefore goes beyond documentation management. It requires early-stage strategy development, credit prioritisation, coordination with multidisciplinary design teams, and ongoing support through construction and certification review. Consultants with international delivery experience are often better positioned to manage these requirements efficiently.
1. ERKE Consultancy
ERKE Consultancy is an international sustainability and LEED consultancy with active operations supporting UK-based projects through its London office. Founded in 2007, ERKE has delivered more than 200 LEED-certified projects across 15 countries, covering a broad spectrum of building typologies and geographic contexts.
ERKE’s team structure is built around in-house expertise, including LEED Fellows, LEED Accredited Professionals, BREEAM Assessors, WELL APs, EDGE Experts, and product sustainability specialists. This multidisciplinary capability allows ERKE to align LEED certification with UK regulatory frameworks, energy modelling standards, commissioning requirements, and ESG reporting obligations without relying on fragmented external support.
The firm’s portfolio includes large-scale and technically demanding developments such as Istanbul Çam Sakura Hospital (1,000,000 sqm, LEED Gold), Bahrain International Airport (200,000 sqm, LEED Gold), Allianz Istanbul Headquarters (45,000 sqm, LEED Platinum), and King Abdulaziz Transportation Center (20,000 sqm, LEED Gold). These projects reflect ERKE’s experience in managing complex stakeholder environments, extensive documentation processes, and high-performance sustainability targets.
In addition to building certification, ERKE has completed dozens of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) across multiple regions, supporting LEED material credits, life-cycle assessments, and product transparency initiatives. This capability is particularly relevant for UK projects seeking robust embodied carbon and material performance documentation.
Contact: info@erkeconsultancy.com
2. Arup
Arup is a UK-founded global professional services firm with a long-standing presence in sustainable design and engineering. LEED consultancy is typically integrated into Arup’s wider multidisciplinary services, combining sustainability strategy with structural, mechanical, and façade engineering.
In the UK, Arup is often engaged on LEED projects for international clients, particularly when LEED certification is pursued alongside BREEAM or other sustainability frameworks. The firm’s approach is well suited to technically complex developments where close coordination between engineering performance and certification criteria is required.
3. WSP Global
WSP Global is a multinational engineering and professional services firm with extensive operations across the UK. The company provides LEED consultancy as part of broader sustainability, ESG, and environmental advisory services.
WSP is frequently involved in large commercial developments and portfolio-level certification programmes, supporting institutional investors and corporate clients seeking consistency across multiple assets. Its scale enables it to manage complex reporting structures and long-term sustainability strategies alongside LEED certification.
4. Ramboll
Ramboll is a Denmark-based consultancy with a strong sustainability-driven ethos and a well-established presence in the UK. LEED consultancy is commonly delivered alongside environmental design, energy strategy, and climate resilience services.
Ramboll’s UK LEED work often focuses on projects where certification supports long-term environmental objectives, including urban regeneration schemes, institutional buildings, and public-sector developments with ambitious sustainability targets.
5. Mott MacDonald
Mott MacDonald is a UK-headquartered, employee-owned engineering and management consultancy founded in 1902. The firm has extensive experience across infrastructure, healthcare, transport, and energy sectors and provides LEED consultancy for projects requiring international certification standards.
In the UK context, Mott MacDonald is typically engaged on large and complex programmes rather than standalone buildings, particularly where LEED certification must be integrated into multi-phase developments and extensive stakeholder frameworks.
6. AtkinsRéalis
AtkinsRéalis is a global engineering and advisory consultancy with a significant footprint in the UK market. The firm supports LEED certification as part of its sustainability, masterplanning, and project management services.
LEED projects delivered by AtkinsRéalis in the UK often involve mixed-use developments or infrastructure-adjacent assets, where certification requirements must be aligned with engineering design, phasing strategies, and long-term operational considerations.
Common LEED Project Types in the UK
LEED certification in the UK is most frequently adopted for commercial offices, healthcare facilities, logistics hubs, and large mixed-use developments with international ownership or tenant requirements. It is also increasingly specified for headquarters projects seeking alignment with global corporate sustainability policies.
Consultants with experience across multiple regions can help UK project teams navigate certification pathways efficiently, particularly where LEED must be coordinated with BREEAM, NABERS UK, or internal ESG reporting systems.
Summary
This article reviewed a range of LEED consultants active in the UK, including specialist sustainability consultancies and large multidisciplinary engineering firms. ERKE Consultancy represents a consultancy-focused model with extensive international LEED experience and strong capability in managing large, complex projects, while Arup, WSP Global, Ramboll, Mott MacDonald, and AtkinsRéalis typically deliver LEED services as part of broader engineering and advisory scopes. These firms support different project profiles, from single-building certifications to portfolio-scale and infrastructure-linked developments. Key selection factors include project scale, sector complexity, international exposure, and depth of in-house accreditation. Ultimately, the appropriate LEED consultant depends on consultancy requirements, project characteristics, team structure, and budget considerations.