HOR 25.05
Horizon — Development
The HOR (Horizon) standard certifies the biodiversity strategy of development projects: urban development zones, housing estates, eco-districts, urban renewal projects. It operates at the site level, not the building level.
Scope of application of HOR 25.05
The HOR 25.05 standard is intended for development projects —including mixed-use development zones, housing estates, eco-districts, brownfield redevelopment, and operational urban planning projects—that structure a biodiversity strategy at the site level. It replaces the AME20-001 (Development) standard from the 2020 version, which became obsolete on January 1, 2026.
new construction ) and EVO ( renovation standards which focus on a building, the HOR assesses the ecological coherence of the entire development operation: green and blue networks, ecological continuities, public spaces, interfaces between plots.
HOR 25.05 in brief
- Target Development Operations: ZACs, housing estates, eco-districts, brownfield redevelopment
- Scale of the entire site (not the individual building) — continuities, frameworks, public spaces
- Evaluation of the design phase (final tender documents) + on-site inspection upon delivery
- Price: Starting from €10,000 excluding VAT (≤ 1 ha) + €1,080/ha beyond that
- Extension compatible with HVE (High Ecological Value) additive
Biodiversity at the planning scale
Planning is the most powerful lever for biodiversity in real estate. It is at this scale that ecological corridors are defined, that open spaces are sized, and that balances between densification and nature are negotiated.
Green and blue corridors: the HOR assesses the operation's contribution to regional and municipal ecological networks. Planted corridors, landscaped swales, links with neighboring natural areas — these elements structure the rating.
Land Take and Artificialisation: the Climate and Resilience Law sets a target of Zero Net Land Take by 2050, with an intermediate reduction target of 50% by 2031. The HOR measures the performance of the operation in terms of land consumption and de-sealing.
Public and shared spaces: parks, community gardens, green spaces — the HOR assesses the ecological quality of these spaces and their contribution to local biodiversity. The differentiated management of green spaces is one of the criteria evaluated.
Specifications for builders: the developer who obtains HOR certification has a legally binding framework for imposing biodiversity requirements on the builders of the plots. HOR verifies that these requirements are formalized and communicated.
HOR and local authorities
Local authorities are the primary decision-makers in land development. The HOR framework provides a contractual basis for integrating biodiversity into the projects they manage or contract out.
Article 35 of the Climate and Resilience Law (August 22, 2021) makes it mandatory to take environmental criteria into account in public procurement from August 22, 2026. The HOR provides the enforceable metrics to meet this requirement in development operations.
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HOR Pricing
Certification cost:
€10,000 excluding VAT
for areas ≤ 1 hectare
Beyond 1 hectare:
+ €1,080 / hectare
In-situ control:
€2,250 excluding VAT
Payment: Registration 25% · Initial assessment 50% · Final assessment 25%. On-site inspection (CCR) is billed separately.
Frequently Asked Questions — HOR
The HOR 25.05 standard replaces AME20-001 (Planning) as of January 1, 2026. The 2025 version strengthens the requirements for ecological corridors and introduces indicators related to ZAN (Zero Net Land Take). Projects registered before January 1, 2026 under AME20-001 retain their original reference framework.
Yes. The HOR covers both developments on undeveloped land and the redevelopment of brownfield sites, as well as urban renewal projects. In this case, the assessment values the ecological gain compared to the initial degraded state of the site.
The HOR certifies the site-wide development. Each building constructed within the perimeter can then be individually certified under NCO 25.05 . The two levels are complementary: the HOR sets the framework, the NCO certifies each individual building.
Yes. The Effinature HOR certification provides legally binding award criteria as defined in Article 35 of the Climate and Resilience Law. Public procurement clauses →
Certify your development project
Submit your HOR application online. Initial contact without obligation, response within 48 hours.
Complete your approach
NCO — New Construction
Biodiversity certification for new residential projects.
Learn more →EVO — Renovation
Biodiversity certification for residential renovations.
Learn more →HVE — High Ecological Value
Addendum for projects reaching higher ecological thresholds.
Learn more →local authority
Consolidated IRICE offer for local authorities.
Learn more →Initial exchange without obligation