HOR 25.05: certifying the biodiversity of development projects

Who is HOR 25.05 for?

The standard is aimed at the players who design and steer the development of the territory: local authorities, public and private land developers, mixed-economy companies, public land agencies, subdivision developers and owners of public spaces. It covers mixed-use development zones, residential subdivisions, neighbourhood renewal, roads, parks and living public spaces. Where a development project durably commits the soil, water and landscape across several hectares, certification provides third-party, enforceable proof of biodiversity performance, far more robust than a self-declaration in the eyes of residents, lenders and public authorities.

Two assessment phases

HOR 25.05 structures the assessment in two stages, to support the project throughout its lifecycle:

• 1 Design phase. Assessment of the commitments made from the urban study stage: ecological site diagnosis, structuring of the green-and-blue network, soil de-sealing, integrated stormwater management, urban heat-island mitigation, and ecological continuity with the wider landscape.
• 2 Delivery phase. On-site verification, at the handover of the works, that the design commitments have actually been implemented. This phase determines the issuance of the certificate.

What the standard assesses

The assessment focuses on the landscape and ecological issues actually present or created at the scale of the operation: the mesh of the green-and-blue network, soil de-sealing and soil life, on-site stormwater management and infiltration, planting of public spaces and diversity of vegetation layers, ecological continuity allowing species to move through the site, urban heat-island mitigation and the climate comfort of streets and squares. Each theme is judged on concrete evidence (studies, layout plans, field surveys), not on stated intentions alone.

A consistent reading of the territory

HOR 25.05 organises its criteria and requirements around the ecological functions of the developed territory, to establish a measurable performance level, comparable from one operation to another. The field assessment is carried out by a Biodiversity Partner, an ecologist qualified by IRICE, ensuring an independent and consistent reading of the standard across all certified projects.

Why certify a development project?

Regulatory and extra-financial pressure on biodiversity is accelerating: the Net Zero Land Take objective, the CSRD directive and ESRS E4 standard, Article 35 of the French Climate and Resilience Act, and the growing expectations of residents and elected officials. In this context, an accredited biodiversity certification turns a narrative into verifiable proof. It enhances the neighbourhood's value with buyers and residents, secures the project's environmental claims and sets the development apart in calls for projects and concessions. Effinature is part of a wider toolset run by the NORMAXIS group, from a free pre-diagnostic through to a signed certification, and draws on the expertise of the certification body IRICE.

How to obtain HOR 25.05 certification

The path is straightforward: you submit an application to IRICE, the certification body (Cofrac accreditation No. 5-0655). Once the application is deemed admissible, a Biodiversity Partner assesses your development project against the standard. IRICE then makes the certification decision independently and issues the certificate, which is listed in the public registry of certified operations.