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'True' sustainability and the UK property market

BNP Paribas Real Estate has recently conducted a piece of research on true sustainability and the property market. True sustainability takes into consideration all aspects of sustainability including social, economic and environmental factors.

The findings show that the property industry is too focused on the green aspects of sustainability, and this is to the possible detriment of social and economic factors.

The firm's views are based on evidence that reveals 83% of the respondents believe that environmental issues are in danger of outweighing social and economic factors, and 94% saying that green issues must be balanced with social and economic needs of communities.

Tim Malthouse, executive director at BNP Paribas Real Estate, comments: "We are concerned that green arguments are in danger of overshadowing social and economic factors in the property industry, as demonstrated by our research whereby over one third of property industry participants (39%) believe the risk of overemphasis on environmental factors over all others is ‘great'. The environment is obviously critical but it is vitally important that all factors are taken into account when property investment, occupier and development decisions are being made."

"There may be cases whereby new ‘green' buildings are actually unsustainable because of a lack of balance between green issues and social needs. This research shows that an over-emphasis on environmental targets could, in some cases, overshadow the need for new developments to form a sustainable part of local economies."

Download the report in full at the bottom of the page.

For more information please contact:

Howard Williams

020 7338 4063

howard.williams@bnpparibas.com

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