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SCAPE becomes first framework provider to join Good Homes Alliance

Thu, 25th Feb, 2021 Updated: Wed, 26th Jul, 2023

The GHA aims to promote the building of quality sustainable homes that enhance the communities they are part of through a range of social, economic and environmental benefits.

As a member of the Alliance, SCAPE will collaborate with more than 80 organisations – ranging from industry contractors and suppliers to local authorities and universities – to support the aim of net-zero emissions homes along with higher standards in comfort and health for occupants. The GHA has an ever-growing Vanguard Network of forward-thinking local authorities and has recently launched a new Pathfinder Network for housing associations.

Members of the GHA – such as Pollard Thomas Edwards, Hoare Lea and Bioregional – are driving innovation and improving standards across the housing sector, including actively supporting progress towards the government’s 2050 Net Zero carbon target. To aid that, the GHA is supporting the Building for 2050 research project, funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which aims to inform UK policy on delivering low carbon homes in England and Wales.

SCAPE champions the development of sustainable low carbon homes through our procurement frameworks for both public and private sector projects, and we have recently published our own comprehensive environmental policy – alongside recommended environmental standards for projects – approved by the UK Green Building Council. The policy sets out a range of objectives that will match the environmental objectives of our clients.

Featuring in our recently published Social Value: More Than Metrics research report, SCAPE has also outlined a series of recommendations to encourage sustainable development across the UK.

If the past year has taught us anything, it’s that collaboration is essential to driving meaningful and impactful change. As a collective of the private and public sector’s most forward-thinking organisations, the GHA is spearheading the effort to create exemplary homes that set a benchmark for sustainability – not just in the UK, but across the world. The Alliance’s work is vital to developing the homes that we need to live in for a greener world.

Mark Robinson

group chief executive, SCAPE

Mark continued, "We currently work very closely with our delivery partners to improve project standards and ensure that benchmarks are not only met but surpassed, so we know that outstanding things happen when we pool knowledge, resources and commitment to the same cause. By joining the GHA, I’m confident that we can achieve more together as we actively contribute to its work for championing change and best practice and generating the sustainable outcomes that local communities deserve."

The GHA is led by a board that includes council representatives, sustainable design experts and architects, and seeks to address the housing crisis and encourage mainstreaming sustainability in design and delivery by:

Exploring alternative housing models
Improving people’s health and wellbeing in homes
Identifying options for carbon neutral and carbon positive homes
Encouraging the adoption of robust standards that improve performance

We’re delighted that SCAPE has joined our Alliance. Developing the supply chain to enable the delivery of net zero new homes is a critical part of the journey and experience from client groups is suggesting that a greater focus is needed around verifiable and real net zero outcomes. Working with organisations such as SCAPE opens up this much needed discussion directly across the supply chain and we are optimistic that we can accelerate the delivery of net zero homes as a result.

Julian Brooks

Programmes Director at Good Homes Alliance

Read about our sustainability policy

Learn more about our social value policy