Built Environment

Aspects of sustainability

We use innovative construction solutions and products designed to increase building energy efficiency, with our 10-point sustainable project criteria (10SPC) target to improve energy performance certificate (EPC)-rating demonstrating our commitment to achieving this. It determines how sustainable they are against our list of priorities and sets our targets for year-on-year improvement to ensure we reach our pre-determined goals for sustainable construction by 2015.

The project sustainability indicators include the Code for Sustainable Homes Rating and Energy Performance Certificates for all projects.

We have set ourselves challenging targets and aim to achieve these by using a combination of innovative materials, products and approaches. 
We understand that project requirements can vary and subsequent changes are inevitable. To ensure the performance of our projects and our 10 Point Plan achievements reflect these changes, we audit all projects at completion to assess performance against targets.  This ensures the 10 Point Sustainable Project Criteria remains challenging yet achievable.
 
  • In 2012, 62% of completed homes achieved a SAP Energy Performance Rating B. We are aiming for an Energy Performance Certificate rating “A” across all projects by 2014.
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  • 51% of the total units we built in 2012 were fitted with A-rated appliances. We always aim to improve the sustainability of our developments without incurring further costs to the project. Early involvement in the project process provides the best opportunity to influence and shape the sustainability strategy for any development.
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  • We have tailored each plan for our three major contracting businesses, Construction, Housing and Interiors, to reflect current market conditions and our goal to deliver a sustainable built environment.
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Our plans are essential to being a sustainable business.  Project staffs’ bonuses are based in part on the number of 10 Point Plan Indicators that have been achieved on their projects that year. 
Post-occupancy evaluations (POEs) on our projects give us a greater understanding of end-user energy consumption within these buildings and how they interact with the buildings features and services. This provides us with invaluable information and data to feed back into the design and build of future projects.
 
As part of our10 Point Sustainability commitment, in each of our projects we seek opportunities to encourage the use of more sustainable forms of transport. Measures we implement on all projects include cycle spaces, car clubs and on-site charge points.
 
All the homes we worked on or completed in 2012 contained cycle storage options for residents. All were built within 1000m of a public transport service. This can be a local bus stop, station or tube station. Where we identify and develop sites for new homes, we ensure that there are local transport links nearby.
 
For the following projects, we have also included the option of a residents’ shared car rental scheme
 
·      Elizabeth House
·      Eltham Baths
·      Bermonddsay Spa
 
Our exciting new development arm be: here builds large-scale developments for rent by working professionals. Home office working provision comes as a standard feature in a each unit they build. 
 
 
 
Retrofit and Refurbishment Projects
 
 
 
  
Willmott Dixon Energy Services is gearing up to help both private and public sector customers in the domestic and non-domestic retrofit markets take advantage of opportunities provided by the Green Deal and other retrofit programmes.
 
A pilot project retrofitting 13 private homes in Rampton Drift, Cambridge won praise from energy minister, Greg Barker, for its willingness to engage with homeowners, the existing homes and cost issues.

                

Our in-house assessors surveyed all the homes internally and externally using infra-red thermal imaging surveys before and after the works.

               

The scheme included full monitoring of all measures in the properties, which included specific performance improvements. We worked closely with Cambridge University providing energy saving advice to homeowners and allowing them access to their actual energy savings.
 
Other high-profile refurbishment projects are Northumbria police HQ, Singleton Hospital, Cardiff and Castle Park Primary School, Caldicot.
 
We continue stay close to the Green Deal’s development through director, David Adams, who was behind the original concept. This retrofit activity comes alongside a growing commitment to creating energy-efficient buildings that work in-use as the design intended.
 
Our facilities maintenance division Willmott Dixon Support Services takes care of nearly 150,000 homes and around 2,000 other buildings and we have just formed a strategic alliance with the UK's largest facilities management firm, Mercury FM.
 
 
2012 Performance
 
Here are some of our 2012 housing achievements:
  • 97% of units comply with Secure by Design
  • 87% of units comply with Life Time Home Standard
  • 977 units comply with Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3
  • 1353 units comply with Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4
  • 18 units comply with Code for Sustainable Homes Level 5
  • 53 units comply with Passivhaus Standard
  • 340 units comply with BREEAM Multi Residential ‘Very Good’
  • 265 units comply with BREEAM Multi Residential ‘Excellent’
  • 129 units comply with Eco Homes ‘Very Good’
  • 8 units comply with Eco Homes ‘Excellent’
  • 100% of projects were within 1000m of a public transport node
  • 100% of projects had a specific Biodiversity Action Plan to minimise the impact of our operations on ecology and biodiversity
  • 100% of units have recycling facilities
  • 35.5 average points out of 40 scored under the Considerate Constructors’ Scheme (CCS) against an industry average of 33.2.
  • Accident frequency rate reduced by 30% in our Capital Works division and 19% in our Support Services division
  • 87% of Capital Works projects that completed in 2012 had an accident frequency rate of zero
  • 16.3% decrease in accidents in the van fleet since 2009
  • 15.7% reduction in accidents in the car fleet since 2009
  • Capital Works showed a significant reduction in their Accident Frequency Rate (AFR) which was down from 0.24 to 0.17, a reduction of 10 reportable incidents from 38 to 28.
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