Residential buildings are a significant contributor to human carbon emissions. And since we need to be providing at least 300,000 new homes per year in the UK alone just to keep up with demand, it’s clear that this sector represents a significant barrier to our Net Zero ambitions. In fact, according to Science-Based Targets estimates, we need to reduce residential carbon emissions by up to 97% relative to 2020 levels if we are to achieve Net Zero by 2050.

In this short paper, we summarise how we’re trying to tackle this pressing challenge through our emerging co-living portfolio.

For each development, we conduct a detailed Assessment that helps us understand the ‘Whole Life Carbon’ of the building – its total emissions from conception, to operation, to demolition and re-use/recycle – in relation to science-based benchmarks. Without this holistic view, we won’t have a true picture of whether a building is truly sustainable, and thus whether it is supporting our climate goals.

But a focus on sustainability isn’t just good for the planet. It also has clear commercial benefits. Planners are increasingly interested in models that support the decarbonisation of the built environment. Residents increasingly want sustainable buildings that are better for the planet and cheaper to run. This creates strong fundamentals for long-term market growth in sectors like co-living that are responding to these drivers.

Download “The Case for Co-living”