Perth & Kinross Council’s Post

💡 Great insight from Celia Harrison, Investment Director in our Property team, discussing the benefits of #CoLiving with New Private Markets.   As a way to tackle two of our most pressing challenges – climate change and the housing crisis – we believe co-living represents a highly attractive long-term growth opportunity.    In the UK, for example, we urgently need to build more quality homes – but our existing #housing stock already accounts for about one-sixth of all #carbonemissions. Co-living developments can help address this through retrofitting, smart design, on-site renewables and shared resources – while also reducing social isolation and loneliness.   For more about the growth of this market (and some of our own projects), check out Celia’s article here: https://lnkd.in/ekKWGuey PEI | #realestate #property #sustainability #coliving

While the conversations are more often about what the city and the council are not achieving- it is only fair to acknowledge what we are. Here are a few more things to add to the list in the article - Whakamaru - the city's new transformational centre was opened - the community have led clean-ups in Newtown and the City - The bus and Bike Improvements for the Southern Route are nearly complete, and they have already had a 62% increase in use - The upgrades for Berhampore and Island Bay Town centres have been completed and look great - The city's transport emissions have reduced slightly, and councils' emissions have reduced by 44% - We corrected the name Hōniana Te Puni Street from Epuni St. -We opened our first Resource Recovery centre in the city centre, Te Aro Zero Waste, in partnership with the Sustainability Trust. -Supported, FillGood l Reusable Serviceware our city's first re-use system for events -Tangle Wood House - Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne’s new home for everyone working and volunteering on this mighty 500-year vision was opened -Our city gained International recognition in the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize for the citizen-led work to bring nature back to our city. -Our city hosted the biggest ever Hīkoi in partnership with our mana whenua - We’ve seen Kiwi return to our hills after 150 years thanks to Capital Kiwi - We’re leaning into boosting the tech and film to help them be the largest employing sectors in the city - We’ve helped Meow Nui open, an excellent new Mid-sized venue to attract more awesome live gigs - The results from the Council's September 2024 Climate Action Monitor survey showed that 87% of respondents felt they understood the impacts of climate change, while 82% expressed a strong desire for increased efforts to prioritise emissions reductions. - We’ve got incredible new artwork across the city, including the beautiful new mural at Ākau Tangi. - We’ve got a new vision statement - Pōneke, the creative capital- where people and nature thrive. So many thanks to amazing Wellingtonians who have gone above and beyond to make these amazing things happen for our city.

Is de-carbonising our cities just about the best technology and funding. Absolutely not. People matter. If we don't get local communities on board, then at best our projects get delayed and at worst abandoned. Much of what I read on making our sustainable cities is about either the right technology (insulation, heat pumps, building materials, demolition vs refurbishment etc) or the financial implications. But much less is written on the social factors that help get these projects off the ground faster (or even at all). As a finance person I have seen numerous 'good' projects that have either taken way too long to get built, or that never happened at all. And this was not because they were bad projects. It was about social licence. We have talked a fair bit about social licence before in the context of mining and heavy industry. But the same issues also apply in different ways to cities and buildings. And this is why a recent report entitled Advancing Just Transitions in the Built Environment from the Institute of Human Rights and Business caught our eye. They make the point that "while some decarbonisation initiatives are reducing inequalities, others are leaving communities behind, generating greenlash - pushback to green initiatives - which costs valuable time, and money, and hinders the transition." And rather than talking about this in the abstract, they used a lot of city case studies. I picked Melbourne from the examples in the report, as it's a city I know well. While Australia is an affluent country, its cities share some common ground with other middle income cities. Housing is in short supply, it's often unaffordable, and it's generally not very energy or resource efficient. The residential sector is responsible for 30% of CO2 emissions in the State of Victoria (Melbourne is the state capital). Outside the city centre, 46.5% of residents have to drive to work. What were some of their practical recommendations (there is a longer list in the report). The first will be familiar - refurbishing for energy efficiency. Why is this a challenge? It's simple - cost and disruption. One solution that the report highlights is the Retain, Repair, Reinvest (RRR) Framework. Put simply it's about keeping communities in their neighbourhoods (Retain), refurbish existing buildings rather than demolish and rebuild (Repair), and then put the savings made back into improving comfort and upgrading public housing (Reinvest). And then there is re-skilling and re-training. Good well paid jobs for the local community. These projects are going to need a lot more construction workers, so lets tap into new groups for this. Lets start with the easy one, getting women into the industry. And they propose lots of practical actions. You can read the full blog for free at The Sustainable Investor (just follow the links in my profile). #sustainablefinance #strategy #cities

S106/CIL seems to hold about as much meaning and value to the typical psyche as "public art". I'd like to see more on/off site contributions invested in value-adding initiatives - it's easy to find ways of spending money on stuff you *need*, but I believe if you're clever about it, you can also afford to use the exact same money on things you need, AND really *want* (ie. more social justice, less "hideous" sculptures) #socialinfrastructure #smartmoney #investment #impact #legacy #communitywealthbuilding

1,100-Home Regeneration Project in Norfolk Flagship Group has submitted an outline planning application to regenerate a 1,100-home development in Norfolk. The project, centered around the Abbey in Thetford, aims to address housing needs while enhancing energy efficiency and community well-being. The plan involves constructing between 320 and 500 additional homes, retrofitting existing ones, and replacing others. These new homes will be built to higher energy-efficient standards, reflecting Flagship’s commitment to sustainable development. According to Peter Hawes, Chair of Flagship, the project marks an important milestone for the Abbey and the Thetford community. Hawes emphasized the extensive consultation process with local residents over the past five years, ensuring their voices are heard in shaping the project. While the plans are in the early stages, Hawes emphasized the importance of phased delivery and continued community engagement. Each phase will undergo detailed design informed by further consultation with residents. To support the community throughout the project, Flagship plans to fund an independent advisor for tenants and leaseholders. This advisor will act as a resource, ensuring the interests of all residents are represented. In addition to the housing regeneration, Flagship has launched a biodiversity plan aimed at transforming outdoor spaces by 2030. This initiative includes measures to encourage wildlife, reduce the use of harmful chemicals, and enhance green spaces for community enjoyment. https://lnkd.in/dZPJNc6h

BUSINESS UPDATE: Regeneration Projects emerged at a time when the world got tipped upside down and suddenly, we opened ourselves up to new ways of being, working and leading. A wave of creativity, innovation and collaboration followed. For us, this manifested in all kinds of exciting projects and opportunities! It hasn't always been easy, running and growing a small independent business, pushing the boundaries ‘beyond sustainability’ during such a turbulent time. But 5 years have passed since the famous 2019 Climate Strike in Melbourne that helped kickstart our journey, and the landscape has changed. We know that Regeneration Projects must change too. We have been right in the thick of things, working locally and globally, trying to break down conventional silos and form meaningful partnerships; between Indigenous and Government organisations, Business and Environmental NGOs, as well as Decision-makers and Youth Leaders. This inclusive, intersectional approach has come to define our grassroots-up identity. Now, we need to hone in on who really are, and let go of what we’re not. From the end of 2024, Regeneration Projects will no longer be defined as a ‘consultancy’. In 2025, RP3.0 will be born and we're inviting you to come on the journey with us, as we strive towards creating greater hope, meaning and value for all of our stakeholders – including Nature. Keep a watchful eye on socials for fresh updates.

"Low-income households, 60% of the Area Medium Income (AMI) or below, are disproportionately more likely to be energy-burdened than non-low-income households." 👇Read more from Project Manager, Jordi Fabian, who shares insight into sustainable affordable housing practices at this week's DC Sustainability Summit. #Mondaymotivation #WeareAPAH #sustainability #greenbuilding #affordablehousing

We know how to create happier, healthier, more successful places. Catherine Palmer, Director of Regeneration Delivery understands the difference regeneration makes for the people who live in these communities. So when it comes to delivering placed-based change, it's about fully realising the potential, building social capital and unlocking long-term value for both current and future generations. We work collaboratively with local authorities, developers and the wider stakeholders to create places for people to live, work, invest and enjoy. Talk to Cathy about creating happier, healthier, place-based change. https://lnkd.in/eeishZ_3 #regeneration #healthierplaces #buildings #infrastructure #quantitysurveying #buildingcities #sustainableliving #greencities

Retrofitting social housing is vital for achieving net zero carbon emissions and improving living conditions. At VOR, we understand that resident engagement is the cornerstone of any successful retrofit programme. Our comprehensive strategy, from written documentation to active Resident Liaison Officer collaboration, ensures smooth project implementation and higher resident satisfaction. Learn more about our resident-first approach in our latest blog post. #SocialHousing #ResidentEngagement #Retrofit #Sustainability

👩🔬 Research group participation - Promoting sustainable housing and breaking barriers to retrofitting. As winter arrives, many of us can relate to the countless issues that arise from poor housing infrastructure, such as cold drafts, damp, and poor insulation, which inevitably increase energy bills. Over the past three weeks, I’ve had the exciting opportunity to participate in a community research discussion hosted by The Young Foundation. The initial focus of this research was to explore the root causes of common housing issues and the barriers to making homes more sustainable—a solution that could address many of these challenges. By the end of our discussions, we identified a range of practical solutions to help overcome these barriers to sustainable housing. It was genuinely rewarding to collaborate with others in the community, sharing insights on such a pressing issue. From my observations and personal perspective, the main barriers to sustainable housing include: 💵 High costs 💔 A lack of trust due to past disappointments from authorities 🗒 Difficulty accessing information and an absence of clear points of contact While some of these issues will require legislative action and the support of central government, others could be addressed by simply improving communication standards. I’m also eagerly anticipating the results of the data analysis, which I believe will provide valuable insights for councils as they work to retrofit more homes and make them environmentally sustainable.