Why and how?

Only 1.5% of homes in the UK fulfil current ‘sustainability’ criteria
and the way success in sustainable design is measured, is somewhat flawed.
The Code for Sustainable Homes, whilst useful in some ways, is only one of
many other forms for helping us all understand how a building or development
is making a positive difference to the natural and social environment.

SUSD’s core values of sustainable living and ethical development mean this: high performance energy efficient methods of construction and using materials that are low in embodied energy but also considering the things that can’t be measured; creating developments that positively enhance existing communities and lift the quality of life of residents.

Design and architecture expectations in the UK are quite low, we work to raise these expectations but believe that architecture can only succeed in regenerating communities when the context of the local groups and connections between these social groups are fully appreciated. The built environment can contribute positively to the development of micro-societies and economic prosperity and progress within urban areas by taking into account different demographics, social mobility and aspirations. And, as local community groups become increasingly involved stakeholders in development projects, they have a great deal of influence in how cities are shaped overall, enabling everyone to have a greater sense of ownership of their environment and what happens to it.

At the moment, development faces a number of challenges; economic uncertainty is one but there are also a number of negative stereotypes that need to be broken down. Perceptions of developers, architects, residents groups and planning officers generally go something like this: developers are mercenary and heartless, architects are only concerned with aesthetics, planners are uncaring and residents are difficult to deal with. This all needs to change in order to do things differently. SUSD intends to play a part in de-mystifying the process surrounding development, remove suspicion and dispel myths. Through our projects, way of working and by encouraging meaningful, positive and open dialogue about development we hope to demonstrate how engaging with development can benefit everyone.