Ethical investor and developer Fore Partnership has set itself a target of achieving net zero carbon across its business and buildings within the next five years.
Fore’s approach includes a retrofit-first strategy, focusing on reusing and repurposing buildings to extend their life spans, while retaining the embodied carbon in their structures.
It is already progressing this at TBC London, a 110,000 sq ft workspace next to Tower Bridge, SE1, which recently achieved planning permission. The building will be 100% electric and zero carbon in operation.
Other key initiatives in Fore’s strategy include:
- Employing, training and upskilling the local workforce in low-carbon building design, construction and technology.
- Only working with suppliers that sign up to its living wage commitment and procurement policies that include detailed obligations. around training, apprenticeships, and other programmes specifically targeted at skills people need to thrive in a low-carbon economy.
- Providing “urban village halls” in its buildings as free space for local social enterprises and community groups.
- Supporting “clean proptech” start-ups where appropriate and seeking to transform outmoded supply chains.
- Working on digital inclusion in communities and delivering programmes around entrepreneurship and innovation.
- Implementing a smart approach to offsetting that includes solutions that improve community cohesion, enhance wellbeing, and deliver education opportunities.
- Only working with banks and financial institutions that have a clear, demonstrable, measurable commitment to a low-carbon future with a defined pathway that aligns with its own net zero pledge.
Fore managing partner Basil Demeroutis said: “We firmly believe that recovery from the Covid-19 crisis must be driven by a climate-led economic plan that accelerates the transition to net zero. Low carbon, socially responsible design forms part of an important narrative that brings people to our cities, our communities, and our buildings. We must give our tenants and their stakeholders positive reasons why they should come work and play in our buildings, and transition away from being preoccupied with offices simply as places where work gets done.”
He added: “We believe the industry needs to consider its work in the context of urban systems, and thus our strategy focuses on taking a more systemic approach to driving environmental and social outcomes. This is essential if we are to ensure the transition to a low-carbon economy is just and smart.”
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