The Group is committed to effective environmental management ensuring that it is focused around its core business objectives. Appropriate environmental policies are set to assist in ‘future proofing’ the Group’s portfolio against changes in legislation and adapting to evolving tenant demands. The Group’s Environmental Policy Statement is reviewed annually by the Board.

The Environmental Policy Committee chaired by Toby Courtauld and including Timon Drakesmith and Senior Managers from across Development, Asset Management and Finance is responsible for the strategic direction of the Group’s environmental policies, monitoring changes in legislation and best practice guidance.

During the year to 31 March 2010 the Environmental Policy Committee:

• considered the reporting requirements of the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme;
• reviewed Energy Performance Certificate ratings achieved across the portfolio;
• instigated the creation of Energy Action Plans for each building;
• ensured green clauses were implemented into our standard leases;
• approved the implementation of the tenant guide on the Company website;
• continued to prioritise the purchasing of energy on green tariffs; and
• reviewed DEFRA reporting guidelines to ensure that our reporting methodology accords with best practice guidelines.

The Environmental Working Group chaired by Timon Drakesmith, the Finance Director and made up of senior representatives from each department meets on a quarterly basis and monitors the Group’s compliance with environmental legislation and best practice and reports to the Environmental Policy Committee throughout the year and to the Board annually.

The identification of sustainability risks is incorporated within our overall business risk review. We have developed Environmental Policies, a Sustainability Framework and Objectives and Targets, which are approved by the Board annually and monitored at least on a quarterly basis by the Environmental Working Group and the Environmental Policy Committee.

The Group has established a Sustainability Framework for use by employees, consultants and contractors to ensure the integration of key sustainability matters throughout all aspects of the Group's operations of investment management, asset management and development through specific procedures required in respect of sales and acquisitions. Areas covered by the Framework include energy, waste, materials, water,transport,ecology,tenants and the community and pollution.

Investment management

Prior to a property acquisition an environmental due diligence report is undertaken, mechanical and electrical surveys are also undertaken to identify plant and equipment inefficiencies. Information is also requested on energy capacity to assess whether current and potential future tenant needs will be met.

Asset management

The Group’s Environmental Management System is controlled and administered by the Health, Safety and Environment Manager and is audited by external consultants on a regular basis. Our Environmental Management System is designed to operate in line with ISO14001 incorporating an online task manager to ensure that statutory checks are undertaken as appropriate with a gap analysis being undertaken periodically to ensure that it is developed and updated in accordance with accepted standards. All contractors are required to comply with the Group’s environmental policy statement and external consultants also carry out environmental checks on all managed properties on an annual basis.

Energy and water consumption is monitored by our Energy Manager with the data externally verified by Bureau Veritas and disclosed on the Company website. During the year, our reporting methodology has been reviewed in line with DEFRA reporting standards and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. As part of our goal to ensure transparent reporting we also monitor and record levels of waste disposed of to landfill, recycling and waste to energy recovery. We have consistently reduced the percentage of waste sent to landfill since 2008 and continue to set stretching targets to further reduce this total.

Development

All our major developments are subject to BREEAM rating with a target to achieve a rating of “Very Good” on major refurbishments and “Excellent” on new build properties with energy efficiency, water conservation and waste minimisation facilities considered at the design phase. In 2009, we achieved a “Very Good” rating for our Wells & More development in London, W1 and our Woolyard development in Bermondsey, SE1.

Obtaining energy supplies is a key risk to all developments and during the year our Head of Projects, Jonathan Walker, chaired a WPA working party working with EDF to establish a best practice guide to ensure timely connection. Each development is continually reviewed throughout the project to identify ways to maximise energy efficiency and promote sustainable resource use. We have set targets to carry out post-occupancy reviews of developments six months after occupation to ensure that design efficiencies continue to make energy savings once the building is occupied. We aim to increase Energy Performance Certificate ratings by a minimum of one grade for refurbishments and to achieve a minimum of a B rating on all new developments. We continue to ensure that at least 90% of timber used in development and refurbishment schemes come from FSC certified sources or equivalent.

Download our 2010/11 environmental objectives and targets pdf

Download our progress against 2009/10 environmental objectives and targets pdf

Download our 2009/10 environmental objectives and targets pdf

Download our progress against 2008/09 environmental objectives and targets pdf

Download our 2008/09 environmental objectives and targets pdf