Sustainability

Circle is a social housing group which has an important role in sustaining and developing communities. With over 61,500 homes and an estimated 200,000 customers, Circle provides services in a variety of environments – from rural communities to urban centres, from isolated detached householders to sheltered housing schemes.

Our sustainability plan highlights what Circle is doing to provide sustainable, desirable and affordable homes. It also shows how we are addressing the issues of increasing energy prices and rising environmental standards.

Our core purpose is to enhance the life chances of our customers. We recognise promoting sustainability can bring benefits to our residents, many of whom will be in danger of being in fuel poverty. Improving the sustainability of our business delivers benefits to all of our partners and stakeholders.

Our sustainability plan is focused on six key areas:

1. Leadership

• The sustainability plan has been approved by the Group Executive Director Board.
• Andy Doylend, Executive Director (Operations), is the sponsor of this programme.
• Sustainability is being built into our broader corporate plans, policies and risk mapping.

2. Improving the sustainability of our existing homes

• Identifying the efficiency of all of our homes and making plans to improve them; particularly homes where our residents are living in or at risk of falling into fuel poverty.
• Working with suppliers to access funding to upgrade these homes.
• Looking for innovative solutions to improve our homes (current examples include Wherry’s “Greening the Box” and installing ground source heat pumps in Roddons properties).

3. Delivering sustainable new homes

• Committing to achieve continuous improvement in our construction, procurement and management systems.
• Designing and constructing homes to be comfortable, affordable, durable and easily maintained.
• Developing sustainable and environmentally friendly new homes ensures a better quality of life for our residents both now and in the future.

4. Green Spaces, Landscape and Biodiversity

• Developing and planning good quality green spaces that are an essential part of neighbourhoods, and make a large improvement in quality of life for communities.
• Our Excellent Estates and community development programmes invest in projects that engage residents and communities in environmental activities to improve the lives of our residents.

5. Offices Management

• The decisions, policies and actions that influence our performance effect every department and are the responsibility of all our employees. The environmental impact of day-to-day activities should be considered in every business decision.

6. Utilising the power of promoting good practice and communication

• We believe that a promotion and communication strategy, tailored to both our internal and external customers, is an important part of this plan.
• Over the next year, we will be focused on communicating to residents and training our staff in the actions residents can take to help ensure that their energy bills are at a minimum.

For a full copy of our sustainability plan please email Alistair.jones@circle.org.uk

03/08/09 16:56