A report by the National Building Specification (NBS) shows that just 43% of construction professionals regularly achieve sustainability in their projects
The report on sustainability in architecture, titled the Sustainable Futures UK Report 2024, finds that there is still an issue with making sustainability decisions early in the process of a project.
The 43% of professionals achieving sustainability goals regularly marks just a 10% increase from the same survey in 2021.
The demand for sustainability in architecture is growing
Although regulation is increasing, it’s mostly professionals and clients leading the growing demand for sustainability in architecture, including low-carbon buildings, minimal waste, and energy and resource efficiency.
However, the growth shown in this survey is too slow, with just a 10% increase in four years.
In architecture specifically, the figure of professionals regularly achieving sustainability in their projects is at just 35%, and a third of professionals say their projects rarely or never meet sustainability goals.
The survey also shows that, while 72% of respondents agreed that sustainability is considered in the design stage, a further 84% say that it could be addressed earlier in the strategy and brief stage.
This would help to make sustainability goals clearer, establish appropriate budgets, and aid in outcomes in the project’s lifecycle.
A disconnect between consideration and addressing
The report notes a concerning gap between when sustainability is usually considered in a project, that being the design stage, and when it would be better addressed in the strategy and brief stage.
This gap would benefit from a more integrated approach from the start, and 62% of respondents agree. More regulation would also help to close this gap.
Dr Lee Jones, head of sustainability at NBS, said: “The construction industry is making incremental but important strides toward reducing its environmental impact, with NBS reporting a positive uptick in the percentage of projects where sustainability is ‘usually or always’ achieved. This progress signals a growing commitment within the sector, though it’s clear that we still have significant work ahead of us to fully integrate sustainable practices throughout the lifecycle of projects.
“But looking ahead, there’s a strong need for the industry to adopt sustainability at the very beginning of the process, during the strategy and brief stages. The fact that so many professionals agree that sustainability should be addressed earlier is promising, but the gap between intention and practice remains.
“Only by embedding sustainability from the very start, as outlined by frameworks like the RIBA Plan of Work, can we ensure that the buildings and infrastructure of tomorrow will truly meet the environmental and social challenges of the future.”
The post Sustainability in architecture ignored during planning, says report appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.
