Sustainability
From the way we build our homes to the communities that surround them, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do.
Through our sustainability focussed schemes, ambitious targets and conscious approach to construction, we go the extra mile to ensure we have a positive impact on our residents, local communities, and the environment, both now and in the future.
More than just energy efficiency
Everything we do is guided by our Sustainability Plan – our strategy for creating better places for people and the environment. We’re committed to setting a higher standard in the creation of our homes, to act as a blueprint for other homebuilders and to change the residential landscape for the better.
From the outset of any new development, we prioritise sustainability – we even choose the dimensions of our homes in line with brick sizes to minimise waste. We are the first homebuilder in the UK to become a Gold Member of The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside, aiming to enhance biodiversity for the benefit of local wildlife and communities.
Energy efficiency is built into every aspect of our homes, with triple glazing as standard, aluminium frames, and an intelligent smart tech heating system that learns how you live and heats your home accordingly, reducing energy usage and bills. And through our Innovate lab, we’re always researching and developing new ways to reduce our impact on the planet.
Sustainability Plan
As a new homebuilding company, we intend to push ourselves each year to implement more vigorous, meaningful targets that contribute to reducing our carbon footprint and enhancing the communities we are operating within.
You can read our Sustainability plan and reports by clicking the links below.
Our sustainability principles
With these principles, we set ourselves a higher standard for sustainability across our communities and seek to continuously improve the way we do things. At each community we:
Create opportunities for people to lead better, more prosperous lives
Engage with local people to understand the needs of existing and future communities
Develop highly sustainable and smart-built environments
Embrace a low carbon energy strategy
Strive to put more back into the natural environment than is taken out
Support the health and wellbeing of communities by creating beautiful, functional and well-used green public spaces
Promote sustainable transport options for all
A look back on a great 2022/23…
Affordable housing
To ensure our developments are as inclusive as possible we are committed to delivering affordable housing across the regions that we work in. Over the last year we have delivered 34 affordable units which equates to 20% of our completed properties in 2022/23.
Biodiversity Net Gain
This year we have set ourselves a target to deliver >10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) across all our sites, to be delivered onsite except where offsite mitigation and offsets can be demonstrated to provide greater biodiversity benefit.
Environmental Net Gain
At Northstone, Environmental Net Gain (ENG) on our sites is a priority for improving the natural environment. We have defined ENG as delivering: an uplift in Social Value, Biodiversity Net Gain and an enhancement in Natural Capital across all our sites.
Active travel
Cycling is a popular mode of active travel; it helps to keep you fit and reduces your carbon footprint. That’s why we integrate cycle storage into our developments to ensure opting for this sustainable mode of transport is easy for our residents. Over the last year, we have implemented secure cycle storage on 64% of our completed plots.
Carbon
Through the introduction of our new Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 ‘Climate Action’ we have committed to target a 3% reduction in scope 1 & 2 operational carbon emissions and develop a roadmap to achieve Net Zero (operational) homes by 2030.
Waste Management
Over the past year Northstone has diverted 99% of waste from landfill through our partnership with Kenny Waste Management. Next year, we aim to reduce our normalised waste generation by 3% from our 2021 baseline.
Our sustainable development goals
We use five of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to guide our activity and make sure that sustainability feeds into every aspect of our homebuilding process.
We are conscious of consuming natural resources in a responsible way, look for innovative ways to reduce waste where possible and embed responsible business practises throughout our organisation.
We make our communities and the surrounding areas inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, by creating high quality, accessible housing and green space for public use.
We promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, providing and supporting productive employment and decent work for all.
We protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of local ecosystems, improving quality of land and committing to making the natural landscape better than it was before.
We’re committed to taking urgent action to address the impacts of both the climate emergency and the pandemic.
Our commitment to sustainability… for your community.
Easy access to nature
We want people to understand and appreciate the natural world around them. That’s why we create opportunities to interact with nature, developing public footpaths to bring our communities closer to the green space nearby.
Sustainable transport options
We have created pedestrian crossings, wider pavements and reduced traffic speeds to create a safer outside space for families.
Increasing wildlife
We go above and beyond to increase biodiversity on our sites by 10%, benefitting local people and native species. Our neighbourhoods incorporate bat boxes, bird boxes, and hedgehog-friendly fences to support the movement of wildlife.
Wildlife education
We help our residents understand the local wildlife, providing education at interesting points around our communities.
Innovative house types
We’re working to provide different house types to suit everyone, no matter their lifestyle and needs. This will create diverse communities and houses that serve the changing needs of the population.
Our commitment to sustainability… for your home.
Lower energy costs
From built-in energy saving elements, like triple glazing, to the tech that comes as standard, your home will reduce the energy you use and save you money.
Lots of light
Floor to ceiling VELFAC windows provide health and wellbeing benefits, help to reduce energy usage in the home and keep you warmer. And triple glazing means you’ll have an undisturbed, peaceful night’s sleep.
Intelligent home
Wondrwall technology is used throughout our homes. The smart tech learns how you live and powers your house accordingly. It will make sure your home is warm for when you get home from work, and lights aren’t left on when you are out.
EV charging capabilities
All our homes come with the option to add electric vehicle charging capabilities, so you can make sustainable choices in other areas of your life.
Waste Water Heat Recovery
Our homes have a clever system that takes heat out of waste water, like shower water, to preheat cold water coming into the home, to improve the efficiency of your boiler and reduce energy usage.
Videos
Awards &
Affiliations
The first major property company to achieve the energy management standard ISO 50001 in 2015
Demonstrating our commitment to sustainability through the UK Green Building Council
Helping City of Trees to plant a tree for every person in Greater Manchester
To put an even greater focus on the need for climate resilience, we have joined Business Declares
Demonstrating support for the UN’s SDGs
The first developer to achieve the BREEAM communities standard at MediaCityUK in 2011
We received Quality Awards from the National Housing Building Council’s (NHBC) Pride in the Job Awards 2021 & 2022
The first homebuilder in the UK to become a Gold Member of The Wildlife Trust
Triple award winner at the 2022 NW Homebuilder Awards
Environmental/Sustainability Award – Silkash
Housebuilder of the Year 2023
Other Documents
Sustainability Updates, Policies and Metrics
Sustainability Metrics 2020/21
Sustainable Construction Policy
Sustainable Procurement Policy
Connecting Communities with Nature Commitment
Northstone Climate Risk Assessment
Northstone 22-23 sustainability report
Evolve office space Climate Risk Assessment
Case Studies
Northstone Sustainability Case Study
Carbon Literacy Training
Social Value Baselines
Silkash – Social Value Mid-Construction Update
Peel L&P Reports and Policies
Peel L&P Sustainability Report 2020/21
Peel L&P Sustainability Update 1.0 (22/23)
Peel L&P Sustainability Update 2.0 (22/23)