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16 May 2008
Sixty three per cent of new homes built by Countryside Properties will achieve at least a 'Good' or better EcoHomes rating compared to 17 per cent of all homes built nationally. The finding comes as Countryside publishes its new Environmental, Social and Ethical (ESE) Report which sets out how the company is planning to use its experience with EcoHomes to work towards new forms of benchmarking such as the Code for Sustainable Homes.
The Report explains how the Group continues to make significant improvements towards its key sustainability objectives and how it has made good progress in designing and constructing more sustainable buildings by using BREEAM/EcoHomes ratings.
Delivering sustainable development is fundamentally important in a changing global context which acknowledges that there is an urgent need for action on climate change. Countryside Properties recognises this and that innovative, responsible development creates added value and is fundamental to our future.
The Group has been a leader in sustainable development for some years. Sustainability is one of Countryside's core values and the company has learnt much from its experiences. Indeed the Group was ranked during 2007 by NextGeneration as the leading privately owned housebuilder for sustainability practices and reporting.
High quality design
High quality design is a cornerstone of Countryside Properties' approach and it holds more Building for Life standards, for design and place-making excellence, than any other private developer. Indeed the Report emphasises that 93 per cent of the Group's residential development is on brownfield and recycled urban land, well above the Government's target for having 60 per cent of housing built on brownfield land by 2008. The Group has taken steps to ensure that social, environmental and economic sustainability are key considerations in everything it develops.
Countryside Properties has a reputation for good management practices certificated to internationally recognised standards. Indeed, during 2007 all of the Group's management systems were re-certified, including Quality Management, Environmental Management and Health and Safety Management. The Group's Health and Safety accident incident rates have remained below the national average for the last four years. The company invests heavily in the training and development of its people and has been certified to the Investors in People Standard since 2000.
Countryside Properties is committed to improving standards of customer care continually and operates a best practice Customer Satisfaction Strategy across all its residential divisions. Since 2005, the Group has seen a year on year improvement in 'recommend a friend' and, in 2007, 84% of purchasers were prepared to recommend its properties.
Alan Cherry, Chairman of Countryside Properties comments: "At Countryside Properties we acknowledge the changes that are now demanded in response to climate change and the broader sustainability agenda, and we are future-proofing ourselves accordingly. However, we recognise that we must meet the requirements in a measured and reliable way with regards to planning, designing and delivering communities that are sustainable economically, socially and environmentally."
View Countryside Properties' new ESE Report at www.countryside-properties-corporate.com/ese
ENDS
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Information correct as at 06/08/2008