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As part of BoonBrown’s Social Value Strategy, over the last three years we have been calculating and tracking the Carbon Footprint of our Southwest and London Studios. In 2023, we launched our inaugural Carbon Reduction Plan which outlined our baseline Carbon Footprint along with the carbon reduction initiatives we have implemented and proposed. Since the publication of this plan, we have continued to assess our carbon impact and have recently released an updated Carbon Reduction Plan, now available for viewing on our website here.

As a practice, we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint to achieve Net Zero by 2040. This aligns with the government’s goal to achieve Net Zero emissions in the UK by 2050. The first step in reducing our carbon footprint was to measure our existing impact so that we could identify areas of improvement to reduce our carbon emissions where possible. For emissions which cannot practicably be reduced, we will look at offsetting measures to reach our target goal of Net Zero.

2023 Analysis

In 2023, we observed a modest rise in our Carbon Footprint compared to 2022. While our Scope 2 emissions decreased, there was a slight increase in Scope 3 emissions. This may be partly attributed to the return to regular work and travel practices following the impacts of COVID-19. Additionally, our staff numbers grew from an average of 44 in 2022 to 48 in 2023, which likely contributed to the rise in Scope 3 emissions related to employee commuting.

However, when evaluating BoonBrown’s carbon footprint on a per-employee basis, we observed a decrease from 1.82 tonnes of CO2e in 2022 to 1.74 tonnes of CO2e per employee in 2023. This represents a reduction of approximately 4.5% and continues the trend observed when considering available 2019 data.

Measuring our carbon footprint continues to highlight some interesting findings and statistics, helping to raise awareness of our environmental impact, both collectively as a business and individually through our own day-to-day habits. It also gives weight to the environmental procedures we implement as part of our ISO14001 accreditation.

Read on for a reminder of how we calculate our Carbon Footprint.

Scope 1, 2 & 3 Emissions

There are three ‘Scopes’ which make up our Carbon Footprint calculations, as defined by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) established in 1998:

• Scope 1 covers all direct emissions from sources controlled by an organisation, such as burning fuel in company vehicles, refrigerants, and burning gas in boilers.
• Scope 2 includes indirect greenhouse gas emissions from purchased energy, such as electricity, heating, cooling, and steam.
• Scope 3 covers all remaining indirect greenhouse gas emissions from activities, from sources not owned or controlled by an organisation.

Scope 1 and 2 emissions are generally easy to quantify and record. However, Scope 3 emissions are much harder to measure despite typically accounting for 65% – 95% of an organisation’s total Carbon Footprint. Measuring Scope 3 emissions requires extensive assessment of the supply chain, including both upstream and downstream activities, and often relies heavily on estimates and third-party data.

BoonBrown Carbon Footprint

Our Carbon Footprint is calculated in tonnes of CO2e, or Carbon Dioxide Equivalent. This is a metric measure used to compare emissions of different greenhouse gases based on their global warming potential.

At BoonBrown, our Scope 3 emissions account for approximately 86% of our total Carbon Footprint and are broken down into the following categories:

1. Employee Commuting

Calculated based on miles travelled, by transport and fuel type.

2. Business Travel

Calculated in the same way as Employee Commuting.

3. Business Accommodation

Based on number of nights spent in hotel accommodation.

4. Waste and Recycling

Calculated based on total weight of items recycled or sent to landfill, which is recorded as part of our ISO14001 processes.

5. Water Usage

Calculated using total water consumption in m³.

6. Employees Working from Home

Based on average number of days per week spent working from home.

We used the Small Business Carbon Calculator created by Climate Impact Partners to convert our collected data into tonnes of CO2e.

Our total Carbon Footprint for 2022 was calculated at 80.11 tonnes CO2e, equal to approximately 20 elephants! In 2023 this increased slightly to 83.58 tonnes CO2e. However, when calculated as an average per employee, we saw a reduction from 1.82 tonnes CO2e, to 1.74 tonnes CO2e – a reduction of 4.5%. A full breakdown of our calculations and the emissions attributable to each of the above categories is available in our Carbon Reduction Plan on our website here.

What have we learnt?

This exercise continues to be an enlightening process and allows us to learn more about the theory behind carbon footprint calculation as well as better understanding the environmental impact of our practices and individual actions. Sharing the findings with our teams in London and Yeovil has given weight to the environmental procedures we implement as part of our ISO14001 accreditation, encouraging staff to adopt new ways of working to reduce our carbon footprint.

In 2022, much of the data for our London Studio was calculated based on averages in the Southwest office. Over 2023, we increased our data collection in both studios which has improved the accuracy of our calculations.

Carbon Reduction Initiatives

Our Carbon Reduction Plan outlines both our implemented and proposed carbon reduction initiatives in detail. Below are some examples of initiatives at an individual level that all employees are implementing in their day-to-day working practices:

• Encouraged staff to switch to ‘green’ search engines, such as Ecosia, which uses profits from advertising to plant trees across the globe.
• Removed individual desk bins, to encourage proper recycling of waste.
• Turning off equipment when not in use, including lights, printers, PCs overnight and monitors when not at your desk.
• Only printing when necessary.
• Encouraged car sharing when commuting or attending remote meetings.
• Improved bike storage in the Southwest Studio to encourage cycling to work.
• Unplugging electrical items when fully charged and switching to reusable batteries where possible.

As a practice working in the construction industry, we are well placed to make positive ‘greener’ choices when designing and delivering our projects, encouraging and assisting clients to incorporate sustainable technologies and reducing the carbon impact of development where possible. As we continue to develop our Net Zero strategy, we plan to actively seek opportunities for further offsetting solutions such as tree planting and habitat creation.

On 30^th July, the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, delivered a ministerial statement in the House of Commons. She introduced the “government’s plan to get Britain building” and “a radical plan to not only get the homes we desperately need, but also drive the growth, create jobs and breathe life back into our towns and cities.”

The issues to be addressed are not to be underestimated. In terms of new homes, there has been a persistent year after year under-delivery since the 1970s based on the government’s own statistics. 300,000 net new homes are required to meet need every year, this need stemming from people living longer, decreasing household size, net migration and loss of existing housing stock.

Alongside the net increase in supply required is a need for homes to be in the right places where there are jobs, homes to be of an acceptable standard in terms of construction, space, energy efficiency and accessibility, and for them to be affordable. The last concern is obviously affected by the under supply.

The underlying statistics (ONS 2024) make for uncomfortable reading.

In the financial year ending March 2023 only 210,320 net new homes were completed in the UK. The last time it exceeded the 300,000 currently needed was in 1976 and this was due to over 150,000 local authority homes being delivered that year.

In 2002, the median salary in England was £20,739 and the median house price was £102,000. This equated to an affordability ratio of 4.92. In 2022, the median salary was £33,208 and the median house price was £275,000 equating to an affordability ratio of 8.28.

3.5 million homes in England in 2021/22, including 12% of households with dependent children, were in ‘non-decent’ condition i.e. those that do not meet the statutory minimum standard for housing, do not provide a reasonable degree of thermal comfort, are not in a reasonable state of repair, or do not have reasonably modern facilities and services.

The new government’s plans include: –

• A mandatory standardised housing needs methodology that will result in significant uplifts in the identified need in the majority of areas with the exception of some cities such as London.
• The designation of some areas of green belt as grey belt to include but not be limited to brownfield land.
• Reforms to the local plan preparation and adoption process.
• Prioritising new social rented homes and better protection of existing affordable housing stock by reviewing Right to Buy.
• Reform of strategic planning to provide the mechanism to deliver infrastructure such as wind farms, solar arrays and pylons.
• A new generation of new towns.

Shortly after Angela Rayner’s Statement, a draft new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was published for consultation setting out more detail and the government’s policy position on matters ranging from housing delivery, economic development, climate change, design and heritage. Embedded within the new NPPF are the planning mechanisms to secure delivery of the government’s objectives such as increased housing supply and the delivery of strategic, including energy, infrastructure.

New NPPFs are nothing new. Indeed, we’ve had two iterations in the last twelve months alone (September and December 2023).

The first NPPF was published when Eric Pickles was the Secretary of State in 2012 and Greg Clark the planning minster. All NPPFs are a material planning consideration in decision making when local planning authorities, planning inspectors and ministers determine applications. They do not challenge the plan led system and the primacy of local plans and neighbourhood plans in decision making.

The government’s plans do not change the fundamental principles of this system.

The intention and reality are that NPPFs influence decisions as a material consideration; local and neighbourhood plans are the first port of call in the decision maker’s assessment but the weight afforded to the policies contained within these plans is tempered by varying degrees according to the consistency or otherwise with the latest NPPF’s content.

At first sight it is likely that many local and neighbourhood plans will find themselves at odds with the new NPPF, especially in relation to matters such as housing supply. This inconsistency should mean that less weight is afforded to these plans, significant weight is afforded to the NPPF, and more housing is granted.

The proof will be in the pudding. Government plans have been previously derailed by the bureaucracies, resource deficits, politics and legal challenges that characterise the planning system. In some instances, these have been self-inflicted as resources have been drained from local authorities, a lack of consultation has been carried out or local considerations have forced national U-turns. And, in a multitude of instances, proposed developments have rightly been refused; there should always be a balance and growth must always be assessed in the context of our collective duties towards biodiversity, climate change, landscape, living standards etc.

There are other factors at play that affect delivery but they key is undoubtedly the planning process.

Following the end of the consultation period for the new NPPF in September it is the government’s intention to publish it in its final form by the end of the year.

There will undoubtedly follow a period of months if not years as developers, council officers, consultees, interested parties, councillors, barristers and other stakeholders grapple with the meanings behind the words. As night follows day, there will be the inevitable publication of complementary guidance notes, discussions, disagreements, local resistance, perceived contradictory decisions, appeals and judicial reviews.

One can only face this future with the hope that, this time, affordable, quality homes in the right places with the infrastructure that they need can be delivered to meet need.

The Common beech (Fagus sylvatica) is one of the most iconic trees, particularly in the south of the UK, it is a common feature in the Somerset landscape and it is also currently under threat as a result of climate change.

The Common beech is considered to be one of Europe’s most ecological and economically valuable tree species, providing vital habitat for wildlife and contributing to the water and carbon cycle. It is one of the largest trees in Britain and can reach 130ft, often known as the ‘Queen of the Trees’. In Hagg Wood, Derbyshire, a beech tree was measured at 45m in 2018 and it is believed that this tree is the tallest native tree in England.

Reduced rainfall and higher temperatures predicted over the next 70 years could lead to conditions that might limit beech tree growth by up to 20-30% in central Europe and in southern Europe losses could be over 50%*. Such losses are an indicator for future dieback, signalling the potential death of vast areas of forest throughout the continent.  Mountainous regions on the other hand would see an increase in Beech tree planting, where conditions would become more suited to the species.

The main climate change impacts anticipated, include, drier and warmer summers (particularly in southern, central and eastern England) with an increase in severe soil moisture deficits – reducing tree growth; changes in the seasonality of rainfall, with wetter autumn and winter periods leading to greater water table fluctuations – limiting root depth and reducing tree stability; an increase in the risk of windthrow; an increase in the incidence and severity of tree disease and pest outbreaks due to warmer winters, allowing tree pest and pathogens to extend their range and a heightened risk of fire, as a result of drier and warmer summers.

It is therefore likely, that beech will become a less common occurrence here in Somerset, species-suitability will change – in order for our landscapes to adapt, woodland management should seek to increase habitat resilience. Lesser-known species, including those from other continents and climates similar to those projected for the south of England will become more prevalent due to their better adaptability to drier/warmer summers. Therefore, species will need to be matched carefully to site conditions. These are common principles to be applied in the management of our forests, identifying the most vulnerable sites first. As Landscape Architects, it is imperative that our selection of tree and shrub species is done in consideration of long-term climatic predictions, rather than as simply a response to a site’s baseline, existing conditions.

Young and newly established trees, together with street trees and trees in hedgerows are likely to be the first affected.

Our ancient and native woodlands will be impacted, with species composition altering – beech will see a range shift, becoming more prevalent in the north and west of England. There are also likely to be great changes in the vegetation community structure, because of altered plant competition, as a result of changes in light from increased leaf area and earlier leafing, changes in the growing season temperature and drier soil conditions. The age structure of tree stands will be affected by an increased frequency of natural disturbance events and the risk of fire damage may increase in woodlands that are heavily visited.

Management of our landscapes will need to be adaptive with measures taken on a site-specific basis. An increase in tree species diversity and enhanced monitoring and intervention where possible or appropriate, planting stock to be chosen with an origin up to 2 degrees latitude south of the site and up to 5 degrees south as a small component of mixed provenance stock in species of low-frost sensitivity. Enhanced pest and disease monitoring and intervention where appropriate, an increase in thinning to reduce moisture demand in open stands, increased species composition, increased public awareness and vigilance and to have in place contingency plans and regular training for fighting fire.

When managing ancient woodland or creating new native woodland, it is important to understand the local climate change pressures and constraints on component species, such as Beech, a dominant tree species within our Somerset woodlands. Woodland planting should be adapted with a proportion of non-local native material to increase the resilience of woodlands to climate change. In new native woodlands, a small proportion of species from hotter drier parts of continental Europe may enhance the resilience of woodlands in the long-term – however, species choice should be selected from regions and sites with a contemporary climate to that projected for England in the future and also consideration must be given to potential impacts on native biodiversity through competition and invasiveness. At least 80% of woodlands should be native, but a small proportion of non-native species may be beneficial if they are well-suited to site conditions and are not an invasive threat. Ongoing woodland management will involve natural regeneration and evolutionary adaptation. Expansion of invasive flora and fauna will be likely as warmer climates will expand their ranges/populations. Coppicing and traditional woodland management measures will improve resilience to drought as stools have deeper roots than regenerating seedlings and planted material. Expansion of ancient woodland pasture and parkland will also aid the dispersal of many woodland species.

It is important that long-term changes to our woodlands are monitored, recorded and reviewed at regular intervals. Extending existing areas of woodland and linking to existing semi-natural habitats may enhance the resilience of woodlands. Hedgerows and shelterbelts can also promote dispersal in agricultural landscapes and can create linkages between ancient woodlands. Widening riparian corridors and other linear semi-natural landscape features can also help to reduce fragmentation. Larger and less fragmented areas of woodland are likely to be more robust in the face of environmental issues and woodland networks will provide the opportunity for both native fauna and flora to migrate as climate change progresses.

Aside from the changes anticipated to species composition in our woodlands and landscapes, woodland planting is an important factor in also the fight against climate change, for instance, woodland planted in valley bottoms that are prone to flooding can attenuate high peak flow events downstream and reduce flooding in towns and cities. Trees also remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store the carbon in solid form as wood. Wood products can also be used as an alternative to other materials that release greenhouse gases in their production.

Planting woodland in our urban landscapes will help in the reduction of stress, increased wellbeing, reduced noise, reduced air pollution, provide shelter and improve the visual quality of urban settings.

Planning for change in our landscapes will allow for the greatest rewards in the future, ensuring that our woodlands remain resilient and healthy.

Europe’s beech forests threatened by climate change (europa.eu)

*Martinez del Castillo, E., Zang, C.S., Buras, A. et al. (2022) Climate-change-driven growth decline of European beech forests. Communications Biology 5: 163

Climate change: impacts and adaptation in England’s woodlands (forestresearch.gov.uk)

Adapting Forest and woodland management to the changing climate – UK Forestry Standard Practice Guide (2022)