Recently, we hosted our first external FutureGen event – a networking evening bringing together our Graduate network and some of our clients. The panel presentation focused on net zero carbon and how it’s impacting planning and development in property. We were joined by Oli Pye, our Head of Sustainability, Louise Wille and Sara Godinho, consultants from XCO², an M&E environmental consultancy and Kate Falconer Hall, a Partner in our Planning and Historic Environment team. We learnt a lot from the panel presentations, and there were some great questions from the audience.

Some of our key takeaways from the event included:

• Consider the whole life carbon and circular economy for all projects from the earliest briefing stage, and set firm targets.
• Ensure the whole design and construction team works towards net zero and that their appointment reflects this.
• Look beyond compliance to ‘design for performance’.
• Continually ‘learn’ and educate ourselves on new concepts, technologies and strategies that promote net zero.
• ‘Collaborate’ with colleagues, clients, consultants and suppliers to optimise outcomes.
• Constantly - and where necessary discretely - ‘nudge’ those who are less knowledgeable or (currently) willing to embrace net zero.
• Regularly challenge yourself on the level of ‘impact’ you are having.

As aspiring future leaders, the urgency of acknowledging the implications of net-zero carbon on our industry cannot be underestimated. It is so important for us all to embrace and implement key changes that can alter the course of real estate and the well-being of our planet for the better.

We’re already looking forward to our next FutureGen event – please reach out if you want to be a part of it.