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Looking after the environment and positively contributing towards its enhancement is a rewarding part of our business and has become integrated into every project that we work on, whether in contracts for the public sector or on private developments of our own.

The reality is that environmental concerns and demands are embedded in the contracts that all public sector clients draw up with partners as the design, enhancement and protection of the environment is an essential component of the concept of deliverable sustainability.

Less dogmatically, but equally sensible is the practice of critically reviewing the environment on our private developments because, although not always an enforcement of the planners, an attractive and sustainable natural environment is very frequently a strong attraction to potential purchasers. So it makes business sense to be concerned and to devote time and effort into environmental issues from the outset of any scheme.

We spend considerable amounts of time and money investing into understanding the progress in technology that is being developed to reduce the amount of carbon emissions from the buildings which we design and build. We are founding members of One Planet Products a buying initiative promoted to identify and increase the supply and quality of sustainable building products and services.

Our Maintenance division has embarked on a joint venture initiative with Brighton University under the auspices of the government-backed Knowledge Transfer Partnership. This has involved the company employing a post-graduate student to work with us on developing an in-depth understanding of the emerging technology and materials that can enable cost effective reductions of carbon emissions from existing housing stock. In a related exercise they are working with Worthing Housing Association on a carbon reduction market test which aims to help understand the combined and relative impact of investment and resident education in the reduction of energy consumption.

At our HQ in Forest Row and in our other main offices in East Grinstead and Bristol, we have embarked on a programme of controlling and reducing energy consumption and waste.

The company has recently appointed a qualified full time Environmental Manager. Reporting to the Group director of SHE, HR and Office Services, the Environmental Manager is working closely with the Manager of Group Business Standards towards achieving full accreditation to ISO 14001 across the Group by 2010.

You can view our environmental policy statement here.

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