Real Estate and the road to net zero

Our expert panel examines some of the barriers to achieving quicker progress in the pursuit of sustainable commercial development and occupation.

Collaboration, legislation, embodied carbon and developer/occupier behaviour are all under the spotlight as we look at progress so far and the journey ahead.

Our panel

• Ben Cullen, Head of Lease Transactions & Advisory UK, Cushman & Wakefield
• Gareth Roberts, Head of Broadgate Developments, British Land
• Marie-Louise Schembri, Design Director, Hilson Moran

The session was moderated by Ali Crosthwaite, Partner, Simmons & Simmons.

> View the webinar on-demand

Key takeaways

• Historically the landlord & tenant relationship is adversarial – how do you build a level of trust to allow parties to address sustainability issues?

• We need to see the real estate industry going through a focussed education – investors, developers and occupiers.

• The evidence from Australia is that buildings which have been certified with the higher NABERS Design for Performance ratings have delivered longer leases, lower vacancy rates and increased capital value.

• Building management systems are rarely used to their full potential and their correct use can be an easy win which can immediately drop a building’s emissions.

• The office is going through a reset as it responds to the changing nature of work and this presents a real opportunity but we need stronger legislation (particularly in relation to embodied carbon) to drive all of the parties in the right direction and to accelerate the best intentions.

• Personal leadership and responsibility can push projects harder, speed up those slow moving pieces and encourage collaboration.