Our performance
Our mission is to be the market leader in the design and delivery of sustainable housing.
We continue to increase the sustainability standards of our homes, through innovation in design and build processes.
During 2009, despite halving our production, we still delivered 51% (941 homes) to EcoHomes standard, (FY08:52%). Of these 92% (868) homes were rated EcoHomes Very Good or Excellent (FY08:79%).
Delivering low carbon homes
The average improvement in carbon reduction over and above current building regulations.
| Build Standard |
Dwelling Emission rate DER: Improvement on the Target (TER) |
| 2009 |
2008 |
| 2006 Building Regulations |
3% |
5% |
| EcoHomes |
14% |
8% |
| Code for Sustainable Homes level 3* |
26% |
33% |
* reported only for fully build complete developments
Energy Efficiency
The average SAP1 rating of our EcoHome dwellings was 82 exceeding the 2006 Building Regulation standards Target Emission Rate by an average of 14%. Our standard dwellings delivered achieved an average SAP rating of 81, exceeding the Target Emission Rate by an average of 3%.
Over half of our dwellings were fitted with a minimum of 50% low energy lighting.
Low and zero carbon technologies on-site
Low and zero carbon (LZC) technologies were installed to 309 dwellings (FY08: 26). Over two thirds of these with renewable energy (photovoltaic or solar-thermal) as at Rainsford Road in Chelmsford, and Wollaton Place. At Elements in Epsom air-source heat pumps provide all of the heating and hot water to the homes. The remainder incorporate other LZC technologies including communal biomass boilers to provide heating and hot water in apartments such as at Claridge Park and One Brighton. Both are managed by energy services companies (ESCos).
The Code for Sustainable Homes
A significant achievement in 2008 was the delivery of our first Code for Sustainable Homes units, well in advance of the Government timetable. During 2009 we have continued to advance, albeit at a slower than anticipated rate, completing 84 units which represent 5% of our total build. We have developed an in-house management system to embed cost-effective delivery and certification of Code units into our standard business practices.
Improving the sustainable features of our homes
It is essential we provide our customers with the facilities and information to assist them to live a more sustainable lifestyle.
All homes now incorporate internal space to segregate three waste types as standard, and access to external facilities aligned with Local Authority recycling schemes. Communal recycling facilities are available on all sites where we're building apartments. One Brighton has an advanced communal recycling system which provides the ability to easily segregate waste into several streams, including composting. This is managed onsite by the "Green caretaker", and the resulting compost, along with the outdoor rainfall collected, is available to residents for the rooftop allotments.
Our average specified water use has improved to 128 litres per person per day (FY08: 141). Our standard specification going forward remains at Code level 4 (105 litres/person/day), and has been adjusted in accordance with the revised Code water calculator.
34% of dwellings have access to outdoor water collection either individually or communally.
Sustainable transport infrastructure
Figures from the Energy Saving Trust show that transport currently accounts for 21% of the UK's CO2 emissions, and they continue to rise. In the UK a large proportion of the journeys we make are less than 2 miles, which emphasises the importance in having amenities and transport links within easy reach, to reduce car dependency. Connectivity and local transport infrastructure are a key element of our Masterplanning process.
Some of the ways we as a developer can contribute towards reducing future transport emissions include:
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Provision of home office
Home working is continuing to grow as businesses become more aware of the negative impacts associated with commuting. We have continued to install home office provisions aligned with the HCA HQI and the Code for Sustainable homes requirements. Crest has committed to installing home office provision as standard, including provision of space for a desk, phone and power sockets, and internet access as allowed by the location.
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Cycle facilities
71% of our dwellings have access to cycle storage (FY08: 50%). In 2009, 52% of the delivered homes had access to a cycle route.
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Innovative transport initiatives
Some 34% of the homes we built had sustainable transport initiatives in place, and 58% of the homes in planning have initiatives in place. Some examples of these:
- Bus passes provided for our residents at BASE
- Improvements to existing facilities such as provision of showers and changing rooms in commercial buildings to encourage cycling at Kings Warren, Redlodge
- At Poole Quarter a comprehensive sustainable transport strategy includes: provision of a bus service linking the development to the town centre; access to a lift sharing scheme via a residents website; vouchers and discounts for taxi, bus, rail travel, bicycle purchase or car club membership
- Funding for a club to promote cycling both within the development and the wider community at One Brighton.
Several of our sites currently have active car clubs providing our customers with a convenient alternative to individual car ownership. Car clubs meet with varying levels of uptake depending on location, and we are trying to understand the level of uptake, advantages and drawbacks as perceived by our customers in developments including One Brighton, Admiralty Quarter, Poole Quarter and Harbourside.
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Access to public transport and local amenities
For the first year we have been able to capture data (calculated using EcoHome distance parameters) on the proximity to public transport and local amenities for all of our homes. (Amenities include: shops, post offices, cash points, schools, open space or community centres.)
90% of our dwellings completed in 2009 are within 1500m of a local amenity, which increases to 98% for the homes we have in planning.
98% of the homes built in 2009 had access to a bus stop and service within 1500 metres, with 88% within 500m. For dwellings in planning 100% of units have access to a bus service within 1500m. Train links are also important, but not always accessible, depending on the location of the development. Almost half of our homes (44%) are within 1500m of a train station.
Local travel details are included within the Homeowners Guide including bus and train timetables and the location of the bus stops. Local transport maps including cycle maps of the area are also provided.
Planning for Low Carbon Homes
50% of all dwellings submitted for planning in 2010 will achieve Code for Sustainable Homes level 3 or above.
Homes submitted for planning in the year
At the end of the financial year 2,115 units had been submitted for planning, 57% of which are specified to Code for Sustainable Homes or EcoHomes standards, of which 746 units are specified to Code level 3.
Performance: Delivering Sustainable homes
| |
Submitted for Planning |
Delivered in |
| |
2009 |
2008 |
2009 |
2008 |
2007 |
| No. of dwellings Code for Sustainable Home level 3 |
746 |
1,903 |
84 |
20 |
0 |
| No. of dwellings certified to EcoHomes |
461 |
1,869 |
941 |
1,556 |
94 |
| No. of dwellings certified to EcoHomes very good/excellent |
372 |
1829 |
868 |
1237 |
37 |
| No. of private dwellings certified to EcoHomes very good/excellent |
264 |
- |
379 (31%) |
458 (22%) |
- |
| % of developments with recycling facilities |
100% |
100% |
100% |
92% |
- |
| % Energy Efficient Lighting in a standard Crest Nicholson house (average across total build) |
76% |
54% |
53% |
39% |
- |
| Daily water consumption litres per person |
105 |
105 |
128 |
141 |
153 |
| % of dwellings with cycle storage |
71% |
91% |
71% |
50% |
- |
Read More
Find out how we are progressing against our targets.
1 SAP is the Standard Assessment Procedure for rating energy use. The SAP calculation indicates how the home will perform in terms of carbon emissions, setting a Target Emission Rate (TER) which represents the minimum for regulatory compliance, against which actual performance is measured by the Dwelling Emission Rate (DER).