This theme looks to establish the extent to which the housing provider has a sustainable approach to materials in both the construction and management of properties.
We work with consultants and contractors to ensure specifications meet the sustainable materials requirements as previously required by the Code for Sustainable Homes. All timber used on our developments is legal and sustainable with FSC or PEFC certification.
We are developing a strategy to increase the use of responsibly sourced materials for development, refurbishment, and replacement of assets, with materials currently specified for robustness and longevity to mitigate the effects of weather, wear, and reduce frequency of replacement and waste. The Development Team reviews material specifications for all sites to deliver a minimum of 10% of construction material from reused and recycled content. This is recorded through development documentation.
Our design team works from project inception to identify possible sources of waste at the construction site, to ensure the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) hierarchy is followed.
Development contractors implement, monitor and manage construction waste with a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP). The SWMP is monitored regularly to ensure that construction waste is re-used, repurposed and recycled, ensuring waste to landfill generated is less than 5%. Development managers work with consultants and contractors to provide and maintain KPI reporting data for waste going to landfill from each site. We work with site construction teams to target a zero waste to landfill outcome.
We have trialled leak detection sensors combined with automatic shut-off valves to reduce the impact of catastrophic escape of water within homes, with a view to incorporating this technology in new homes for the coming year. We are planning to do this for stock in operation, and we already seek to reduce water demand for new-build homes as follows:
