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ESG consulting
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors are now a key consideration in almost all major commercial real estate decisions. Our expert ESG Consultancy team guides clients through ESG considerations as they navigate current climate challenges and growing regulations and legislation on the horizon. We help identify actions and opportunities, creating practical and actionable ESG strategies.
We assist clients in transforming business outcomes by mitigating climate risks and protecting the resilience of portfolios by offering industry-leading climate solutions at every stage of the asset lifecycle.
We use our freedom as an independent partnership to provide clear insights, advice, and solutions to support your ESG goals.
We aim to be your ESG commercial real estate partner.
Net zero and carbon management
Our team of experts will devise and deliver a pathway to net zero carbon for both your individual asset and portfolio needs. Our net zero expertise covers all stages of the property lifecycle by developing a business plan that ensures a smooth portfolio-wide transition and application and transparent progress reporting throughout.
Our net zero related services:
- Operational energy reviews and benchmarking
- Climate-related reporting
- Whole life carbon
- Carbon footprinting
- Science-based target development
- ESG due diligence
- Smart building technology
Due diligence
Our consultants ensure your asset holds value against competing assets and into the broader market by achieving credible and valuable standards such as the Green Building Certifications. We analyse your existing strategies, policies, and risk factors, creating approaches that make sure your asset achieves a notable ethical standard. We strive to secure high-quality tenants by developing an overall strategy and creating successful leasing market collateral while reducing the utility costs of your asset. We help create the optimum occupier experience for stakeholders regarding health, wellbeing, and user journey.
Carbon risk and resilience
Occupiers demand higher-quality buildings, particularly in a hybrid working landscape with rising energy prices. Creating a business strategy considering ESG risks contributes to more stable returns and lessens investment risks from unprecedented climate change, transition and related social risks.
Disclosure and reporting
The ESG report and regulation landscape is ever-expanding. We provide asset and portfolio-level reports which align with ESG frameworks and rules from the EU Taxonomy, Carbon Risk Real Estate Monitor for stranding risk (CRREM), the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) and the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). To protect and command higher returns and values, we help asset owners understand the granular details of their building’s ESG performance.
Social value, health and wellbeing
Investors are looking for financial vehicles that embody a sense of social or environmental good. Investors and shareholders now identify that organisations striving to make a positive environmental impact are some of the most profitable whilst protecting our communities and planet.
There is growing interest from investors to understand how corporate decisions and policies contribute to quality of life and, in turn, how they can generate positive returns. The GRESB methodology states that an explicit focus on health and wellbeing helps fund managers maximise the potential value of real estate assets and mitigate associated risks.
Recognising ESG factors’ impact on society is significant, so we work with clients to deliver social value through our strategic advice. 
Green certification advice
Our ESG team provides comprehensive strategies for building certification attainment and improvement. With certifications like BREEAM In-use, NABERS, and WELL, various routes exist to achieve improved scores. We outline the most cost-effective and credible solutions to improving certification scores and provide multiple pathways to the desired rating, focusing on different target areas.
Green building ratings evaluate and recognise buildings that meet environmental and broader sustainability standards. Comprehensive audits are carried out by accredited assessors, who evaluate buildings against criteria spanning energy and water efficiency, embodied carbon, indoor environmental quality, and health and wellbeing. The resulting scores translate into ratings for benchmarking.
Value of green buildings?
There are several benefits of such certifications, like green certifications, which enable occupiers to make informed, sustainable decisions by identifying properties that benefit themselves, others, and society. Green Certificates have been noted to add a premium value to sales of 8-18% and 3-13% rental premium.
Green finance
With the built environment accounting for about 40% of total carbon emissions, both bank and non-bank lenders across Europe increasingly consider ESG credentials in their real estate lending. In the UK, the Bank of England has had its remit extended to support carbon targets and develop green finance, while the government has created the Green Technical Advisory Group (GTAG) to create a taxonomy that will act as a framework for green investment and mitigate the risk of greenwashing.
We assist investors in securing debt with favourable terms linked to ESG performance. These include minimum EPC ratings, minimum green certification scores, energy intensity targets, energy reduction targets and social impact targets. We can facilitate negotiations and undertake project monitoring responsibilities to ensure the best ESG-related terms are delivered. 
Energy efficiency compliance
Our in-house carbon consultancy team are helping clients protect assets against incoming Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) legislation. Proposed increases to the minimum EPC rating requires EPC B rating by 2030, which will have significant implications. For landlords and occupiers who wish to assign or sublet space, the marketability of some properties would become impossible unless they were upgraded to meet the minimum standards. Landlords need to take action now to avoid penalties and protect the value of their assets.
Related services
ESOS: The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) is a government programme aiming to boost UK businesses' energy efficiency. It is a mandatory reporting scheme that applies to large UK companies that meet specific headcount and turnover thresholds. The requirements of ESOS phase 3 have been strengthened following a public consultation from the government. The response has been measured to minimise the impact on phase 3 compliance, with more wide-reaching changes expected for phase 4. One of the main changes includes recommending that net zero is included in phase 3 before it becomes mandatory in later phases.
Ambitious companies should look to use their ESOS phase 3 application to begin their net zero journeys and use it as a stepping stone for larger net zero strategies and goals. While there is a cost of compliance, smart businesses should recognise that this is an opportunity for something greater and go beyond standard ESOS compliance.
Our ESOS support will ensure you meet The Environment Agency requirements and transform energy use for the long term.