Climate change is an unprecedented challenge which requires urgent global action to sustain growth and prosperity. The benefits of early action and the cost of inaction are widely understood. At Countryside Properties we recognise the fundamental importance of delivering sustainable development in creating new homes, workplaces and communities that will be valued and enjoyed by people today, and for generations to come.
With the nation’s homes producing at least 27% of total UK carbon emissions and the resource intensive nature of the development industry, the longer term imperative to progress towards a more sustainable built environment continues and will not change regardless of current highly challenging market conditions. Indeed, the Government’s increased commitment to the sustainability agenda through the 80% target reduction in carbon emissions by 2050, and the targets for all new homes to be zero-carbon from 2016, and new non-domestic development to be zero-carbon by 2019, sets an unparalleled challenge for our industry.
Policy and regulation
The current policy and regulatory framework within which we plan, design and deliver new homes, work places and communities has continued to change and evolve. We are continuing to innovate to meet the changes that are now demanded in response to climate change and the broader sustainability agenda.
Key challenges
The three key challenges that the development sector and the Government faces in the delivery of sustainable communities are affordability, sustainability and deliverability. The credit crunch has caused an exceptional decline in new housing production in 2008 and as a result the undersupply, which has been a feature of the market for many years, continues to worsen. The sustainability and affordability targets set out by the Government will be even more difficult to achieve given the economic challenges the country and the industry now face. However, our experience of trading through economic recessions in the mid 1970’s and early 1990’s and our ability to change and adapt has been, and continues to be, helpful in our response to the present and ongoing situation.
A leader in sustainability
Countryside Properties has been a leader in sustainable development for many years. It is one of our core values and we have learnt much from our experience. Our approach to development is entrepreneurial, innovative and responsible and seeks to create added value principally through high quality design and place making.
Future prospects
When housing and commercial property markets improve, as they inevitably will, the prospects for the more responsible developers will be considerable. The need and demand for more new homes is substantial, so there are good prospects in the medium and long-term for those that have the skills to create sustainable communities.
In the short-term there will be opportunities for developers such as ourselves to refine their business model to respond to opportunities that the growing shortfall in housing supply presents.
For further information visit our Environmental, Social and Ethical (ESE) Report 2008
Information correct as at 22/02/2010
"No housing developer has done more, been as visionary, or so committed to sustainable design quality."
Lord Rogers, Chairman, Rogers, Stirk, Harbour + Partners Ltd.
