Berkeley named UK's most sustainable housebuilder

Berkeley is the most sustainable housebuilder in the UK according to a study by consultant Jones Lang LaSalle.

The NextGeneration report, written by Jones Lang LaSalle, scores the 25 biggest housebuilders against over 250 criteria across environmental, social and economic sustainability.

The initiative, which scores housebuilders each year, has been running since 2006 and is overseen by the Homes and Communities Agency and the WWF.

Housebuilders Crest Nicholson and Miller Homes were rated second and third respectively.

Karl Whiteman, divisional director and sustainability lead, at Berkeley, said he was “very pleased” to have placed at the top of the table with a record score of 91%.

He added: “The key thing in 2012-13 has been our focus on social sustainability, which has been all about the quality of life and strength of community [in our developments]. That has probably differentiated us from other housebuilders.”

The assessment process works in two stages with the first stage assessing publically available information and the second looking at detailed information not in the public domain. Only housebuilder who are NextGeneration members receive the second stage assessment, which they pay a fee for.

Other highly rated firms included Willmott Dixon, Lend Lease and Galliford Try.

Berkeley also topped the table in 2012.