Sustainability is one of the most important topics in the construction industry at the moment. There is growing support for it, with more and more stakeholders pushing for buildings to be greener. However, do professionals actually consistently deliver on the promise? A new report by NBS shines a light on this. We want to have a closer look here. Then, if you want help from creative architects in London, you can rely on us.

The report

NBS recently published their 2024 Sustainable Futures UK Report. It shows what progress there has been since the survey in 2021. In addition, it shows where more work is necessary.

The headline figure is that 43% of professionals achieve sustainability goals regularly. That is a 10% increase since 2021. There is a positive here because things are moving in the right direction. However, there is also a concern that the progress is slow.

The report is critical of architects. It says just 35% regularly achieve sustainability goals. Even more worrying, a third say projects rarely or never do it. It is a bad assessment of the architecture industry. As top architects in London, we acknowledge that professionals from our industry should be leading the way to deliver more sustainable properties.

What needs to change?

The report highlights that there is a concerning factor in terms of when sustainability is considered. It finds that 72% of responders said it is a consideration at the design stage. However, 84% said they could address it sooner at the strategy or brief stage.

You may be wondering why it is important to consider sustainability as early as possible. The truth is it can provide a number of benefits. Crucially, it can make the goals for the project clearer. Plus, it can ensure there will be a sufficient budget to achieve the objectives. Finally, considering it early means you can look ahead to ensure sustainable outcomes for the whole lifecycle of a project.

A more integrated approach from the very start of a project would be very beneficial. It would create the groundwork for more professionals to achieve sustainability goals. Responders to the survey agree, with 62% in favour. It would be great for everyone, including architects in London.

NBS Comments

The head of sustainability at NBS, Dr Lee Jones, had some comments about the report and trouble with achieving goals. He said the construction industry is “making incremental but important strides”. However, while the progress is positive and there is a growing commitment, there is still “significant work ahead of us to fully integrate sustainable practices throughout the lifecycle of projects”.

Dr Jones’ recommendation is we need to “adopt sustainability at the very beginning of the process”. It will help to close the gap between intending to be sustainable and actually doing it. Doing it will ensure we can create buildings and infrastructure to “meet environmental and social challenges of the future”.

Do you want some help from architects in London?

One of the best ways to make intention into reality is to work with passionate architects as early as possible. Many clients create a strategy and brief then use it to decide who to work with. However, you could devise strategies and create briefs with input from an architect.

Coffey Architects is a wonderful team to work with. We can help clients to explore sustainability, decide their goals, and create a design to achieve them. We’ll look at various options, including different materials and tech. Most importantly, you can work with us to think about the full lifecycle of a building.

So, get in touch if you want help from award winning architects in London. We’d love to work with you on homes, housing, and any other type of project.