Willmott Dixon is to introduce BREEAM and post-occupancy evaluations on all its projects. This means it will be competing with consultants to provide sustainability services.

The contractor will undertake the evaluations on all schemes built after 2008, with actual assessments taking place from 2009.

These will include technical assessments and a judgment on the building’s suitability for use, including the opinions of occupiers and data on staff productivity.

It will use the results to advise clients on changes they can make and improve the designs of its future schemes.

John Frankiewicz, chief operating officer of Willmott Dixon, said: “Any change like this will be seen as radical, but for a contractor, doing these things makes sense for business reasons.”

Willmott Dixon has established a specialist consulting division, called Rethinking, to carry out the assessments. Frankiewicz says the business will recruit specialist staff.

The post-occupancy evaluations will be carried out across all sectors, including education, leisure, hotels and health.