- The UK built environment is responsible for approximately 25% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions.
- Little government guidance on how to meet net-zero targets by 2050.
- Policy focused entirely on operational emissions, ignoring embodied emissions.
- Insufficient incentives to develop and use low-carbon building materials.
- Insufficient evidence of government prioritizing reuse and retrofitting over demolition.
- Expansion of permitted development rights leading to demolitions without considering whole-life carbon impact.
- Skills gaps in sustainable construction.
- Lack of consumer demand and trust in the retrofit sector.
House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee
Greenhouse gas emissions & sustainability report data
In its 2022 reporting, House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee disclosed greenhouse gas emissions of 40 to 50 million tonnes of CO2 annually. Figures are as stated in the company's own report and may use different boundaries, units or methods (for example market-based vs location-based Scope 2), so compare with care.
GHG Emissions
40 to 50 million tonnes of CO2 annually
2022
Waste
90 per cent of construction and demolition waste is recovered or recycled
2022
🎯 Climate & Sustainability Targets
🔜 Short-term
- Introduce regulations to mandate whole-life carbon assessments for buildings above a gross internal area of 1000m2, or which create more than 10 dwellings by December 2023.
📅 Medium-term
- Develop progressively ratcheted carbon targets for the built environment to match the pathway to net zero.
🔭 Long-term
- Achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
🌱 ESG Focus Areas
Climate ChangeEnvironmental ProtectionSustainable Development