How housebuilders can take a sustainable approach to placemaking

At Keepmoat we aim to integrate resource efficiency and climate-focused planning into every stage of a development – from planning and design through to construction and ongoing management.

This begins with early-stage collaboration where planners, architects and engineers work together to identify opportunities for energy efficiency, efficient use of materials and low-carbon construction methods.

Clear objectives and measurable outcomes are also key, with many projects setting targets not just for energy performance, but for social and environmental impact. These include the number of apprenticeships created, local jobs supported or nature-enhancing features.

Sustainability policies deliver tangible benefits for residents and communities, with progress tracked through technology-enabled dashboards that monitor performance in real time.

Sustainability also extends beyond individual homes to the wider communities. Keepmoat focuses on creating neighbourhoods where people feel safe, connected and supported.

The team have delivered hundreds of new homes, enhanced transport links and created a new footpath to the centre of the city

This includes consideration of local needs – green spaces, accessible transport routes, local amenities and resilient, sustainable design.

For example, Keepmoat’s NorthBridge site in Glasgow has transformed a former factory site into a thriving community. The Scottish team have delivered hundreds of new homes, enhanced transport links and created a new footpath to the centre of the city – resulting in the complete transformation of a key part of the wider Sighthill Transformational Regeneration Area and a brownfield site on former industrial land.

This significant regeneration project will deliver more than 1,000 homes at completion, with up to 20% offered as affordable units. It has already created 86 new jobs for local people while contributing thousands of pounds to the local Glasgow economy.

Investing in local people

Prioritising local recruitment not only helps to reduce skills shortages but also strengthens ties with the communities that benefit from the new developments. By offering apprenticeships, work placements and career opportunities for local people, housing providers can create a pipeline of talent while boosting regional economies.

Embedding these opportunities within neighbourhoods ensures that the approach delivers positive outcomes across the board, including improved wellbeing, stronger local economies and reduced environmental impact.

At Keepmoat, social value managers work closely with schools, colleges and training providers to support young people across the country through targeted skills development, educational partnerships and hands-on construction experience.

The Yorkshire East team has recently employed eight apprentice bricklayers working on sites in Hull, Hornsea, Driffield and Scarborough. This important partnership and upskilling initiative with the NHBC forms a vital part of Keepmoat’s social value strategy, addressing the UK’s construction skills shortage while investing in communities and supporting people close to its developments.

Bolstering sustainability across operations

As part of a wider commitment to employee wellbeing, Keepmoat recently partnered with The Lighthouse Charity, a construction charity which supports the wellbeing of people working within the homebuilding sector, including mental health, physical wellbeing, and financial support.

This new partnership forms part of Keepmoat’s “Valuing Difference” initiative, dedicated to upskilling department leaders and managers to support employees. Teams are equipped with tools to enable effective mental health and wellbeing conversations, including signposting team members to health services and benefits.

Sustainability in housing is about creating tangible, human-centered outcomes, energy-efficient homes, resilient communities and responsible environmental stewardship

Sustainability is an ongoing journey rather than a fixed target. Housing providers must embed sustainable thinking into everyday operational decisions – from procurement and construction to long-term property management. Initiatives that are fully integrated into operations, rather than treated as one-off projects, will deliver the most lasting impact.

Innovation and continuous improvement are central to this approach and technology is playing a key role in Keepmoat’s mission to create sustainable homes.

Ultimately, sustainability in housing is about creating tangible, human-centered outcomes, energy-efficient homes, resilient communities and responsible environmental stewardship. By moving sustainability from policy into practice, housebuilders can create neighbourhoods that not only meet environmental targets but also improve the quality of life for residents.

John Bowden is the sustainability director at Keepmoat