Great Portland Estates recognises that managing and balancing environmental, social and economic issues is key to ensuring the long-term sustainability of its business and is integral to the Group’s operating approach. During the course of the year ended 31 March 2011 the Group has:

• implemented Energy Actions Plans in place for each building to help to improve the energy efficiency of our portfolio;
• begun implementation of a new energy management software system to record meter readings and energy consumption to provide better reporting on energy figures both internally and to tenants;
• fully achieved 24 out of 40 of its corporate responsibility and sustainability targets;
• updated its Sustainability Framework;
• maintained our position as a leading company for transparency and disclosure evidenced by external recognition;
• made targeted improvements to the local environment surrounding significant parts of the Group’s portfolio to maximise appeal to current and prospective tenants; and
• been actively involved on numerous committees within organisations serving to promote and develop the property industry.

Board oversight

The Board has responsibility for the approval of policy relating to social, environmental and health and safety matters and is determined to apply high standards to all areas in which the Group operates including the management of the joint venture operations on behalf of the joint venture partners. The Board approves the Group’s Health & Safety and Environment policies and annual objectives and targets in light of the Group’s Corporate Responsibility risks, Value Statement and strategy. In addition, the Board receives annual reports on the environment, health and safety and corporate responsibility and regular reports during the course of the year from Toby Courtauld and Timon Drakesmith on health and safety and environmental matters, where appropriate.

Property industry representation

Directors and senior management are encouraged to represent the Group’s views and contribute to the development of the property industry. The Group also supports a number of organisations including the Westminster Property Association, Westminster City Council, Transport for London and the New West End Company in their work to improve and support central London.

Toby Courtauld is a member of The New West End Company Strategic Board. During the year the Group made voluntary contributions to match those of the Group’s tenants to the New West End Company to support its activities to ensure London’s West End continues to be unsurpassed as a leading destination around the globe.

Toby Courtauld also serves on the British Property Federation which addresses a range of issues affecting the property industry including construction, sustainability, finance, regeneration, development, commercial and insurance matters.

Neil Thompson serves on the Operations Committee of the Westminster Property Association (“WPA”) an association of property owners and their advisers in the City of Westminster which actively lobbies Westminster City Council and the London Mayor’s office on a full range of planning related topics aimed at improving development within the West End. Neil Thompson is also on the Management Board and Management Executive of the British Council of Offices involved in the research, development and communication of best practice in all aspects of the office sector.

Objectives and targets

The Corporate Responsibility, Health & Safety and Environmental Working Groups chaired by Neil Thompson and including representatives from Development, Asset Management and Finance are responsible for the implementation and monitoring of progress of the Group’s corporate responsibility and sustainability targets.

At the beginning of 2010 we set a total of 40 corporate responsibility and sustainability targets covering the key areas of:

• environment and the portfolio;
• tenants and the community;
• our people;
• suppliers; and
• health and safety.

Twenty four of these were fully achieved. If targets were not achieved, we analysed the reasons for failure and, as appropriate, changed our procedures and, where relevant, included them again for 2011/2012 to emphasise our commitment. To ensure the highest level of achievement, where appropriate, elements of the Group’s objectives and targets are also included within individual employees’ objectives and targets.

Download our 2011/12 Sustainability Objectives and Targets

Download our 2011/12 CR Objectives and Targets

Download our progress against our 2010/11 CR Objectives and Targets

Download our progress against our 2010/11 Sustainability Objectives and Target

Download our 2010/11 CR Objectives and Targets

Download our 2010/11 Sustainability Objectives and Targets