At HartDixon, sustainability is embedded in everything we do. This Earth Day, we’re proud to reflect on the steps we’ve taken to align our work with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and create meaningful impact across the built environment.
Giving Back to Our Green Spaces
As part of our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, the HartDixon team recently spent an afternoon volunteering with Leaves Breathes, a London-based charity dedicated to the restoration and preservation of urban green spaces. Under the warm spring sun at Beech Gardens in the Barbican, our team rolled up their sleeves to help maintain this vital community space.
Together, we worked to cultivate the gardens, enhancing biodiversity and ensuring the area remains an oasis in the heart of the city. This hands-on effort supports UN SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, as well as UN SDG 15: Life on Land, both of which advocate for greener, more resilient urban environments.
The Bigger Picture: Demand for Sustainable Buildings
We are proud to be part of an industry that is undergoing a major transformation. Across London and the South East, the desire for sustainable construction and retrofitting has never been more evident:
- Commercial Demand: In Q2 2024, leasing activity for office space in London increased by 21%, with over 50% of take-up involving buildings rated as ‘excellent’ or ‘outstanding’ for environmental performance. Tenants are prioritising greener buildings, not only to meet internal ESG goals but to attract talent and reduce long-term operating costs.
- Residential Momentum: The UK’s green building market is projected to grow from £5.2 billion to over £13.5 billion by 2033, driven by rising awareness, regulation, and demand for energy-efficient homes.
- The Retrofit Challenge: To meet its net-zero carbon targets by 2030, London must retrofit nearly 500,000 homes, but fewer than 1% of this target has been reached so far.
Spotlight on Sustainable Projects
We are committed to incorporating sustainable practices across our projects, from inception to completion.
One example is our work at Springfield Industrial Estate in Chelmsford, where we delivered a £2m contract administration, reinstatement and refurbishment project.
Sustainability measures included:
- VRF heating and cooling systems
- Electric water heaters
- Solar PV panels
- LED lighting
- EV charging stations
- Cycling facilities
These upgrades enabled the property to achieve an EPC A rating, significantly improving energy performance and reducing operational emissions.
Similarly, at 1 Church Manor Way in Erith, we provided project monitoring for a new £11m industrial development designed to achieve BREEAM Excellent, EPC A+, and top-tier ESG credentials. It included:
- Solar PV
- EV infrastructure
- A highly adaptable design for a sustainable future
Earth Hour at Piccadilly Lights
Earlier this month, we joined millions worldwide in recognising Earth Hour, when Piccadilly Lights, one of our iconic projects, went dark for 60 minutes in association with WWF UK. As the nation’s digital noticeboard, it was an excellent reminder that small symbolic actions, when taken together, can create big change.
Our Roadmap to Net Zero
We understand that true sustainability requires long-term vision and accountability. In line with the UK Government’s commitment to net zero emissions by 2050, HartDixon has developed its own Zero Carbon Roadmap with clear reduction targets:
33% by 2025
68% by 2030
78% by 2035
Net Zero by 2050
From integrating air source heat pumps and solar energy in our builds, to rethinking the life cycle of buildings across sectors, we are proactively reducing carbon across our operations.