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Policy Engagement

As the leading national sustainable housebuilder, we aim to set the bar high for sustainability in the wider industry, leading and contributing to research, industry initiatives and policy development.

As the leading national sustainable housebuilder, we aim to set the bar high for sustainability in the wider industry, leading and contributing to research, industry initiatives and policy development. We continue to inform government on sustainability issues as well as providing leadership and expertise to the Future Homes Hub, a joint industry and government initiative, designed to deliver a whole industry transition to net zero. Our CEO, David Thomas has been appointed as the first chair of the Future Homes Hub and our group Head of Biodiversity is Chair of the Future Homes Hub's (FHH) Biodiversity Net Gain working group.

The Group is also responsible for the development of industry guidance in collaboration with Natural England and DEFRA. As a business we committed to demonstrating a minimum BNG of 10% across all development designs submitted for planning from January 2023, ahead of the legislation making this mandatory from mid-November 2023. We are also part of the Future Homes Hub Markets Advisory Group, working with stakeholders to shape market for biodiversity offset and give confidence to Local Planning Authorities (LPAs), developers and communities that offset delivery will provide measurable, strategic benefit to biodiversity. We also contribute to workstreams on, green finance, and sustainability and performance metrics, as well as the the Future Homes Standard which will result in a technical consultation..

The Group continues to engage government at ministerial level on a range of critical sustainability issues, as well as directly with relevant senior officials, via the UK Net Zero Buildings Council, convened by Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), the BEIS, Defra and Department for Education-led Green Jobs Delivery Group and the Construction Leadership Council. Most recently, our CEO David Thomas was appointed to the Energy Efficiency Taskforce. The Group support the Taskforce on policy development, including developing a long-term cross sector roadmap to net zero with clarity on targets and standards, growing consumer confidence, a green finance framework and net zero skills.

As part of the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) Advisory Group on Business, Group Sustainability Director Bukky Bird has contributed to The Power of Partnership report on how business can deliver net zero. Meanwhile, we joined a CCC roundtable on skills as they work to produce a UK Skills System report. Additionally, we are feeding into the UKGBC roundtable to inform the CCC on built environment and net zero skills.

More broadly, we continue to support the Net Zero All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) and input into conversations around supply chain challenges to meet future energy demand for energy efficiency measures, including the size of the UK skills gap, materials and how challenges vary across different energy users. This included a report on housing and the net zero transition, for both new and existing homes, as part of the Building Back Britain Commission.

We also produce our own research, including a report called ‘A Home of One’s Own’ exploring the financial consequences to younger households of being stuck in the private rented sector (PRS) due to inadequate supply of homes for owner occupation which found that across northern and midlands Core City regions, 17,530 potential first time buyer households will be stuck in the rental trap each year. Owning one’s own home remains, overwhelmingly, the aspiration for most households, 89% of those renting would buy if it was affordable.

We also submitted evidence as part of the Skidmore Net Zero Review and actively provide insight and evidence to a range of consultations. This has included:

  • DEFRA- Consultation on Biodiversity Net Gain Regulations and Implementation (April 2022)
  • DEFRA- Consultation on Environmental Targets (June 2022)
  • BEIS- Towards Market for Low Emission Industrial Products (February 2022)
  • Scottish Government- New Build Heat Standards Consultation
  • CLC- Zero Diesel Routemap
  • National Planning Policy Framework

Our industry-leading innovation programme also provides opportunities to engage with stakeholders and positively influence policy. This includes our partnership with the University of Salford and a range of supply chain partners to build the Zed House and eHome2 within the unique Energy House 2.0 research facility. The stakeholder launch included politicians and policymakers, including Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and delegates from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero.

These innovative projects and the focus on cost of living and energy efficiency, the Zed House, Energy House 2.0, our 100% air source heat pump development Delamare Park and our long-standing partnership with the RSPB continues to win industry awards and receive positive coverage, providing platforms for opinion pieces in trade and national media, including the Big Issue, the Big Green Money Show and Radio 4’s You and Yours. These media opportunities highlight our credentials and plans, as well as highlighting the areas where government can help achieve a smooth, effective and just transition, including clear rules and consistent standards. 

Find out more about how we engage with our stakeholder groups here.

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