Sustainability
evaluate a building’s specification, design, construction, and use. The measures used represent a broad range of categories and criteria from energy to ecology. Each category focuses on the most influential factors, including reduced carbon emissions, low impact design, adaptation to climate change, ecological value, and biodiversity protection. Integrating the required measures
outlined by the BREEAM framework at the earliest possible stage of projects enables reduced life cycle costs and increases in asset value, building user experience and health, corporate image, and CSR requirements, and risk mitigation. Aware of the positive impact and structure this framework had brought others in the built environment, we made the decision to take this forward at Oakland Care in what was a first for the care sector. Specifically, we chose to begin with the
‘BREEAM In Use’ method that allowed us to understand the environmental, social, and sustainability performance of our care home buildings. This assessment is set against various criteria, including energy and water use, pollution, resources, and the health and wellbeing of users. This has allowed us to introduce positive changes in our care homes, from reducing running costs, through to improvements
in air quality and lighting, as well as promoting active, healthy lifestyles among those working and living at our care homes. Since this point, we have seen six of our care homes receive an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM certification, placing them among the top 10 per cent of buildings in the UK.
The next step
Building on this success, we have since sought to apply BREEAM standards at each of our new build care homes with the help of Envision, a dedicated specialist sustainability consultancy that has helped oversee the implementation of its criteria.
Together with the help of Envision
we have ensured each of our new homes takes advantage of new technologies and opportunities to incorporate elements that meet BREEAM targets.
This includes installing solar panels, air source heat pumps to generate clean energy, ensuring every building is constructed using Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified timber, as well as installing electric vehicle charging points, with six already in use at our Maplewood Court care home in Maidstone, Kent and a further 10 units spread across our other homes. We are also committed to delivering wildlife gardens which make a positive improvement to biodiversity in every one of our homes. From the start of 2023, all our new homes have had at least 25 per cent of garden space dedicated to biodiversity. This policy was also introduced into our existing portfolio where wildlife gardens and ponds have been retrofitted into each garden. Harpenden Springs now represents the
next step in our mission to demonstrate how our sector can make a meaningful contribution to tackling climate change.
Pushing the boundaries at Harpenden Springs As we have continued to grow, maintaining universally high standards for environmental consideration across all Oakland Care homes has been of the utmost importance. We have a responsibility to our residents, our staff, and the sector, who look to us to lead the way in this space. In 2022, we began drawing up our vision for the 75-bedroom Harpenden Springs, one of our latest care home developments located in Hertfordshire.
Unlike some of our other sites where planning permission had already been
March 2025
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