Strategic Ambition Eight
"Develop homes, services and operations in a sustainable and environmentally responsible way"
Historically, English Rural's approach to sustainability has been viewed through the lens of specific business functions, primarily development and maintenance activities. Multiple drivers have influenced our sustainability progress, including regulatory expectations, legal requirements, and our aspirations to reduce environmental impact and lower energy costs for residents. As part of our work to develop the new Business Strategy, we focused on sustainability, identifying not only what needs to be achieved, but also what should be done based on our values and aspirations. Consequently, the Board agreed to establish this as an entirely new strategic ambition, recognising that sustainability should be a cross-cutting theme across all our activities.
English Rural is building on a strong foundation. We have already completed two successful retrofit projects across our housing stock, replacing older electrical heating systems with air-source heat pumps. During the year, we reviewed our Development Strategy, going further than before in applying fabric-first principles to new home construction and setting a minimum target of achieving a high-level B energy rating. However, until now, we have not had a standalone Sustainability Strategy to guide our approach or clear metrics to measure our progress.
To deliver the impact we hope for, we recognise the need for a comprehensive Sustainability Strategy. Aligning this with widely accepted Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles will enable future external reporting and comparison with others in the sector. We are also aware that improved data on our homes and residents will ensure that our approach delivers the best value for money.
Our commitment to sustainability is not just about meeting regulatory requirements; it's about creating lasting value for our residents and communities. By integrating environmental responsibility across all our operations, we're investing in a more resilient and efficient future for English Rural.
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Developed and agreed an updated Development Strategy setting higher environmental standards for all new homes
Completed a small pilot to assess older homes and identify the most impactful approach to investing in environmental improvements
Explored the landscape for understanding and delivering sustainability gains as part of the Business Strategy review, establishing it as a standalone business ambition
An illustration by Matthew Rice from the Affordable Rural Housing Design Guide section on planning for the future.
>> A comprehensive Sustainability Strategy aligned with sector-accepted Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles is necessary to deliver the desired impact and enable external reporting and comparison
>> Improved data collection on homes and residents is crucial for ensuring our approach delivers the best value for money and targeted improvements
