sustainability

At Darwin, we are committed to ensuring that a focus on Environmental, Social and Governance best practice underpins everything we do. Our Corporate Responsibility Report sets out how we do this.
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Environmental considerations are at the forefront of our ongoing park operations and all of our redevelopment work. We aim to ensure that our buildings and accommodation are as energy efficient as possible, our park environments are managed in harmony with the local environment and that waste management is efficient and utilises recycling where possible.

Development Principles

Building Sustainability

We engage the services of the RPS Group, an energy resources and environmental consultancy company, to advise us on the environmental considerations of each development site.
Following advice from RPS Group, we work carefully to ensure that the welfare and habitat of all animals on redevelopment sites, from crested newts to badgers to bats, is protected as much as possible, and in accordance with all applicable laws and guidelines.

Ecology

Buildings are designed to be as energy efficient as possible, with a range of energy saving measures incorporated to ensure that when operational, the ongoing carbon foot is as low as possible. These have included:
Grass roofs to provide natural insulation.
Roof-mounted ‘wind catchers’ in place of air conditioning.
Low temperature under floor heating with hot water generated by an air source heat pump.
Building insulation beyond the requirements of the current Building Regulations.
‘Sun pipes’ to introduce natural light into deep plan spaces.

Natural Landscape

The natural landscape is an import focus of each redevelopment project.
As many existing trees as possible are retained through careful design of layouts and restrictions placed on contractors.
During any redevelopment work, all ‘as dug’ materials are retained on site to create adjusted levels and landscape features.
Meadow turf has been planted at a number of redeveloped parks which gives a natural feel that will require less maintenance. This helps, not only to encourage wildlife, but reduces the need to run lawnmowers and other machinery.