A survey of the sustainability credentials of 13 of the UK's largest listed housebuilders has found that few housebuilders are designing sustainability into homes.
The survey, commissioned by environmental campaigner WWF and Insight Investment, found that only rarely do designs incorporate waste separation facilities, for example, and few housebuilders are focusing on energy efficiency.

Building Regulations specify that a new home must display its SAP energy use rating. But the findings said of the 13 housebuilders surveyed, only Countryside Properties, Berkeley Group and George Wimpey – rated first, second and fourth respectively – publicly reported their SAP ratings.

On average, the 13 housebuilders received the worst scores over their impact on society, with the survey highlighting a general failure to consider health and safety as a sustainability issue. It also pointed out that few housebuilders addressed the need for long-term employment or established neighbourhood management strategies for the communities they had created.

"Responsible housebuilders should consider how their developments can contribute to creating a more sustainable future for local communities, as well as for society and the environment more widely," said Paul King, director of WWF's One Million Sustainable Homes campaign, of which the survey forms a part.

The survey results were based on publicly disclosed information and – with the exception of Wilson Bowden, which came bottom of the survey – follow-up meetings between WWF and the housebuilders. Wilson Bowden not meeting WWF may have affected its score.