Sustainability Awards 2008: Sustainable Housebuilder of the Year

Winner: Crest Nicholson

Commitment to sustainability permeates all sectors of the business at Crest Nicholson, something that is clearly demonstrated in its portfolio. This year, it has secured planning for a zero-carbon development at One Brighton, in partnership with BioRegional Quintain, and has been selected to develop the London Development Agency’s first zero carbon community, One Gallions. About 60% of the projects it has submitted for planning this year will incorporate some form of renewable energy. On top of this, the firm is investing heavily in green transport schemes. At Bath Western Riverside, for example, £9m is being ploughed into initiatives such as cycling routes and a car club. Particularly impressive are the strides it has made in staff training, for example, it runs on-site sustainability induction programmes and it has developed a pocket-sized best practice guide to environmental site management.

Runner up

Barratt Developments

Barratt has had a strong year on the sustainability front. In May, it opened its prototype home at the BRE innovation park in Watford, which met the criteria for zero stamp duty and hit level six of the Code for Sustainable Homes. It has been selected by English Partnerships as preferred developer on the Carbon Challenge scheme at Hanham Hall hospital near Bristol, and has teamed up with energy company E.ON to find affordable ways of cutting emissions on 12 developments. Luckily, it wants to share its knowledge - academics at Manchester University are compiling a report on its EcoSmart show village at Chorley, Lancashire, which will be available to the government and the industry.

Sponsored by Isover

When you use insulation materials from Isover, you’re proving your green credentials, because they are manufactured from silica sand, the Earth’s most abundant naturally occurring mineral. Furthermore, up to 80% of the raw material used in the production process is recycled. This makes Isover products amongst the most environmentally responsible on the market, especially as we follow a three-stage process of:

• Ethical sourcing of and manufacture from sustainable and recycled materials.
• Sustainable end use through insulation, saving energy and reducing carbon emissions.
• Responsible disposal of waste production materials by recycling

And manufacture into other products.

So with Isover, you’re not just investing in some of the world’s most effective, efficient, energy-saving insulation products, you’re also investing in the healthy, sustainable future of our precious planet. For full details call 01159 451143 or email isover.enquiries@saint-gobain.com