18 THE CLIMATE CHALLENGE


Sustainability through placemaking


John Bowden at Keepmoat discusses how housebuilders must approach sustainability in 2026 – advocating a strategy that puts placemaking at the centre of developments.


HOUSING PROVIDERS MUST EMBED SUSTAINABLE THINKING INTO EVERYDAY OPERATIONAL DECISIONS


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ustainability in housebuilding can too often be approached as just energy effi ciency alone hilst essential, it only represents a small part of the wider sustainability picture True sustainability requires a holistic approach that spans the entire lifecycle of housebuilding and the operation of a sustainable business, from land selection and construction methods through to placemaking, skills development, and longterm community wellbeing As attitudes towards sustainability continue to evolve across the sector, one question continues to be asked: hat does sustainability actually loo like in practice?


BEING A TRUE SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS Integrating resource effi ciency and climate focused planning into every stage of a development can be challenging Collaboration between planners, architects, engineers, builders and commercial teams must take place as early as possible to ensure sustainability is


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at the forefront of ey decisions This early intervention ensures the combined skillset of a multidisciplinary team is identifying opportunities for improved energy performance, effi cient use of materials and options for low- carbon construction methods It also ensures schemes are shaped by local context, responding to environmental constraints, transport links and community reuirements Clear objectives and measurable outcomes are also key, particularly as many projects have targets not just for energy performance but for social and environmental impact ustainability should be considered throughout every part of a business - including the strengths of the teams who will ultimately be delivering it


Actively feeding into the skills pipeline by investing in apprenticeships and local jobs also contributes to overall sustainability goals olicies should deliver tangible benefi ts for sustainable communities, with progress traced


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