Environment

Environmental issues are at the heart of the Government's sustainable development agenda. Countryside Properties has a good track record in environmental performance and increasingly we are taking an holistic approach across the broad range of environmental management issues.

Regulatory Environment

With Government targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the introduction of the Code for Sustainable Homes and the implementation of Site Waste Management Plans legislation, we are facing a demanding regulatory environment.

BREEAM/EcoHomes

BREEAM, which includes EcoHomes, has been the recognised industry tool for assessing the environmental performance of new homes and commercial buildings for some years. We have had a long-term commitment to BREEAM/EcoHomes, and in the last six years all of our homes have been assessed against it. Such a commitment is unsurpassed in our sector.

• In this reporting period some 63% (2006 - 55%) of our schemes will achieve at least a 'Good' or better EcoHomes rating.  This compares favourably with 17% (2006: 13%) of total new housing in the UK which will achieve a 'Good' or better EcoHomes rating.

Code for Sustainable Homes

This has given us a comprehensive insight into new forms of benchmarking such as the Code for Sustainable Homes (the Code). The Government’s introduction of the Code, which replaces EcoHomes for all new dwellings in England from April 2007, provides a single national standard guide. Exemplary standards of sustainable development will be met through achieving various criteria, similar to but exceeding that of its predecessor. In addition, the NextGeneration initiative has highlighted environmental performance areas for the industry to focus and improve upon.

Countryside Properties' knowledge and experience will also be important once the Code for Sustainable Buildings is announced in 2008 for all commercial property development. These two Codes will help to support the Group's long-term vision of delivering sustainable communities

Countryside Properties is embracing the Code and is working assiduously to fully understand its requirements and the opportunities, costs and risks to the business of meeting each of the levels of the Code, in advance of the Government’s requirement for all new homes to be zero carbon by 2016.

To help the Company prepare for these changes we have been working with our consultants to produce a ‘Developers’ Guide’ (sustainability risk and reward strategy) and to present a strategic way forward. This guidance will help ensure that the appropriate decentralised energy infrastructure and/or approach to micro technologies is integrated into our proposals for energy and water provision.

Innovation

Indeed, our experiences of Combined Heat and Power are being augmented as we test a range of technologies and enhancements to building fabric. Furthermore, we are negotiating with Energy Service Companies to ensure that our schemes are ‘future proofed’ in readiness for PPS1 requirements, so that our customers can enjoy sustainable, best value utility provision.

Setting demanding targets cannot be achieved solely through the use of new construction products. New and improved project and construction management processes are also needed. This will involve us setting up an integrated project process, involving all members of the project team including key suppliers and sub-contractors in the planning, design and construction stages. This will be monitored by key performance indicators.

We are also progressing the following initiatives:

• The energy efficiency of the Group’s new homes is demonstrated to our customers by displaying Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) rating notices in all our homes. Our average SAP ratings show a 2% improvement on 2006 performance.
• To ensure that high standards are constantly maintained at all our developments we carry out monthly environmental site audits. As part of the audits, each subsidiary company’s performance is benchmarked against specific legislative and best practice environmental criteria. In 2007 100% (2006 - 100%) of our developments achieved our 80% benchmark.
• Moreover, all our sites are registered under the Considerate Constructor Scheme (CCS). Audit scores are 10% (10% in 2006) above industry averages and in recognition of this, in 2007, we received Considerate Constructor Awards at: Ringley Lock, Stoneclough and at Hillside Estate, Hackney. We aim to at least maintain this standard.
  
  

During the reporting period construction site waste has decreased significantly by 18% and the Group’s overall performance is considerably better than the BRE Best Practice benchmark. We are currently working with Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and Recyclable Market Development (ReMaDe) to ensure our approach reflects the impending Site Waste Management Plans regulations.

We continue to reduce the impact of our office based operations:

• CO² emission reduction strategies continue to improve our carbon footprint. During the reporting period this has resulted in a 14% decrease in emissions from our company car fleet (2006: -13%). Head Office and our Northern office have also seen a decrease in emissions of 8% (2006: -9%). In addition, in 2008, we are looking to introduce a Green Travel Plan and we will continue to review our car policy and offer the choice of more efficient cars and alternative travel options.
• We have calculated our water consumption during the reporting period and, when compared to Envirowise’s benchmark, we have achieved a 10% improvement.
• Improved working practices have lead to a 15% improvement in the amount of waste paper and cardboard sent for recycling from our offices.

Benefits

We are continuously evaluating where added value is being delivered most effectively and in 2007 we saved £3.819 million through sustainability and supply chain improvements and a further £2.53 million in 2006. Examples of the Group supporting sustainable enterprises includes the procurement of 100% of paper and 48% of stationery products from sustainable sources.

Committed Approach

The Group’s wholehearted commitment to sustainability is demonstrated by our continuing commitment to ISO14001 and is communicated to our employees through our intranet, staff magazine, regular email newsletter and induction days. In addition to this Report, communication with our stakeholders and in particular with our customers is achieved through our websites, sales and marketing literature, displays in our sales and marketing suites, as well as through customer handover and completion packs. Continuous improvement is monitored by the Group’s Managing Directors Advisory Group and the Board.