New investors sign up to Better Buildings Partnership

Savills Investment Management, Orchard Street and CEG have become the latest real estate investors to join the Better Buildings Partnership. Commenting on the new members, BBP chief executive Sarah Ratcliffe said that the continued focus on sustainability in the industry was “exciting and encouraging”. She added that the new members would “help continue to strengthen the partnership”. Alex Jeffrey, global chief executive at Savills Investment Management, said: “Growing and managing a highly sustainable portfolio which is resilient to climate change is fundamental to our business strategy as well as being important to our investors.” Nick Lee, CEG’s development director, added: “Working within the built environment, we recognise our role and responsibility to reduce carbon across the entire development and operational lifecycle. Sustainability, responsibility and resilience are embedded at the earliest stages in order to achieve this.” Orchard Street managing partner Philip Gadsden highlighted his company’s goal of becoming a net-zero carbon business by 2050, as well as working with occupiers to achieve a 25% reduction in occupier carbon intensity by 2025. A number of BBP’s member have signed a challenging climate change commitment. The all pledged to become net zero by 2050 and publish their pathways to get there before the end of 2020. In an interview with EG last September to mark a year of the BBP’s charter, Ratcliffe said the response from the sector had already been “a really good expression of the industry wanting to be part of the solution”. She added: “Year two for the commitment will be about doubling down on the detail. We will look at how we challenge the leasing process, procure FM services better, upskill the industry and work better together.” To send feedback, e-mail tim.burke@egi.co.uk or tweet @_tim_burke or @estatesgazette