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Environment

We will ensure our business activities protect and enhance the environment around us

We will ensure that our planning, procurement and build policies and practices set clear standards for responsible environmental management and support us in becoming a carbon net zero business by 2050. Our responsibilities span throughout the project life cycle, from land acquisition to after sales care.

SDGs

Link to corporate values

  • Lasting legacy

  • Stronger together

Focus area: net zero

By building homes which are more energy efficient, making changes to how we operate as a business and implementing lower-carbon technologies, we will reduce our carbon emissions year-on-year, meeting the requirements of the Future Homes Standard and achieving net zero by 2050.

The targets below have been developed in consultation with an external sustainability consultant who has assessed our business against others in the industry and identified where and in what timeframe carbon reductions can be achieved.

We achieved a reduction in our carbon intensity from 0.0078kgCO2e per £1 turnover in 2019/20 to 0.0055kgCO2e per £1 turnover in 2020/21. This was achieved despite operational activity levels increasing across sites as COVID-19 public health restrictions eased, with the move to hybrid working patterns for office based staff and greater use of virtual meetings delivering benefits. We are committed to making year on-year improvements, as outlined below.

Objective Target 2020/21 progress
Build homes which are more energy efficient to reduce operational carbon
  • Minimum 31% reduction from 2013 Building Regulations in line with Future Homes Standard 2021 Part L
  • 70% reduction from Group 2021 baseline data by 2030
  • 100% reduction from Group 2021 baseline data by 2050
  • All new planning applications compliant with 2021 changes to Building Regulations Part F and L
  • Two partnership housing schemes under construction already comply with the 2021 Future Homes Standard Part L requirements
  • Completed a desktop cost analysis of energy efficiency measures that can be implemented across our house types to achieve compliance with 2025 Standard
Use lower-carbon building materials and manufacturing methods to reduce embodied carbon
  • Achieve year-on-year improvements to reach net zero by 2050
  • Off-site manufacturing and Modern Methods of Construction task force formed
  • Costing exercise complete and case study to be implemented in the year ahead
Become a more energy efficient business in our daily operations to reduce on site carbon
  • 20% reduction from Group 2021 baseline data by 2025
  • 40% reduction from Group 2021 baseline data by 2030
  • 100% reduction from Group 2021 baseline data by 2050
  • Contracts entered into to purchase 100% renewable energy across our offices and development sites
  • Hybrid home/office working policy implemented

Focus area: biodiversity and conservation

The Environment Bill was passed into law in November 2021, making it law for developments to achieve a minimum 10% biodiversity net gain (BNG) across developments. With our history of brownfield site remediation, our projects often already deliver much greater gains.

Objective Target 2020/21 progress

Work with local governments, wildlife groups, landowners and other stakeholders to support their priorities for nature conservation to enhance biodiversity both on site and in the wider community

Deliver 10% BNG at a minimum

Our planning application submitted this year at Cavalry Barracks, Hounslow will, if approved, deliver a 51% BNG

Our approved plans for Hillingdon Gardens, Hillingdon will achieve a 26% BNG and a 0.4 Urban Greening Factor

Habitat units at Patchworks, Walthamstow will increase by an estimated 232% as a result of our activity

Focus area: circular economy

A circular economy is based on the principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems.

Objective Target 2020/21 progress
Divert construction waste material from landfill Year-on-year improvements to reach 100% of waste material diverted from landfill 97% of waste over the reporting period was diverted from landfill, with 3,156 tonnes of waste removed in total and 3,063 tonnes diverted
Implement lower waste manufacturing methods across developments To be developed Off-site manufacturing and Modern Methods of Construction task force formed to research feasibility

Statement of carbon emissions

This is our second-year reporting carbon emissions. The report is compliant with UK legislation as set out in the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) and covers energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions relating to gas, electricity and transport, intensity ratios and energy efficiency actions.

  This reporting period
(Oct 2020–Sep 2021)		 Prior reporting period
(Oct 2019–Sep 2020) *
Total electricity use 2,189,607kWh 2,048,864kWh
Total gas use 732,822kWh 330,753kWh
Total transport fuel 496,187kWh 2,131,833kWh
Total energy from other fuels 92,041kWh Combined with above
Total energy use (all sources) 3,510,657kWh 4,511,450kWh
Total carbon emissions (electricity) 638tCO2e** 478tCO2e
Total carbon emissions (gas) 157tCO2e 61tCO2e
Total carbon emissions (transport fuel) 169tCO2e 517tCO2e
Total carbon emissions (other sources) 29tCO2e Combined with above
Total carbon emissions 993tCO2e 1,055tCO2e
Total number of staff (average for period) 138 staff 156 staff
Carbon Intensity ratio 1 0.0055kgCO2e per £1 turnover 0.0078kgCO2e per £1 turnover***
Carbon Intensity ratio 2 7,198kgCO2e per member of staff 6,765kgCO2e per member of staff

* All data covering reporting period October 2019 to September 2020 produced and supplied by ECA Business Energy

** Includes 131.8tCO2e Well to Tank WTT and Transmission and Distribution emissions (not included in previous period)

*** Data covering reporting period 1 October 2019 to September 2020 calculated using ECA Business Energy data and turnover supplied by Inland Homes

Carbon and energy efficiency actions

We have implemented the policies below for the purpose of increasing the business' energy efficiency in the relevant financial year:

  • Moved to hybrid working for office-based staff
  • Implemented and encouraged use of video conferencing
  • Reduced travel and client visits as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Signed contracts to purchase 100% green energy

Methodology used in the calculation of disclosures

ESOS methodology (as specified in Complying with the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme version 6, published by the Environment Agency, 21.01.21) used in conjunction with Government GHG reporting conversion factors.

For carbon only related matters, the SECR methodology as specified in ‘Environmental reporting guidelines: including Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting and greenhouse gas reporting’ was used in conjunction with Government GHG reporting conversion factors:

SECR methodology notes

1. SECR methodology as specified in 'Environmental reporting guidelines: including Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting and greenhouse gas reporting' used in conjunction with Government GHG reporting conversion factors:

2. Intensity ratios calculated using:
Number of staff

  • Number of employees at beginning of period = 127
  • Number of employees at end of period = 149
  • Average number of staff = 138

Turnover

  • Turnover £181.7m

3. The calculations have been approved by a PAS51215 compliant body

4. Data estimation – none

5. All data covering reporting period October 2019 to September 2020 produced and supplied by ECA Business Energy

6. Carbon Intensity ratio 1 for reporting period Oct 2019 – Sep 2020 calculated using ECA Business Energy data and turnover supplied by Inland Homes