There’s a whole year of opportunities ahead of us in 2024 and in this article, our Managing Director Ed Hutchinson delves into the prospects ahead as we strengthen our relationships with partners to forge sustainable environments, safeguarding both people and the planet.
Happy New Year! While January can sometimes be gloomy, it’s also the ideal time to look ahead to brighter days and get excited about what’s on the horizon at HBD as we continue to create places with purpose.
Among the headlines in 2024 are the completion of 102 luxury apartments at SETL in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, continued progress at the £1bn Golden Valley scheme in Cheltenham, and handover of our projects at Island in Manchester and Momentum in London. We’ll also be moving forward with some of our strategic industrial and logistics developments all across the UK and 2024 sees us celebrate 20 years of our fantastic partnership with Derbyshire County Council at Markham Vale.
All of this continued progress is guided by our four strategic pillars: people, place, planet, and partners.
People with passion and purpose
I’ve purposefully started this list with our people. Each and every person within the HBD team is at the heart of all that we do. We may be located up and down the country, working out of different offices, but we are one business, with a close-knit group of people collaborating regardless of geography.
Every element of progress and success we achieve is down to their ambition and tenacity, and that’s why we are committed to continuing to prioritise our peoples wellbeing and foster their professional growth this year and in the future.
Our continued investment in our people helps to position HBD at the forefront of the industry, enabling us to embrace challenging opportunities like the transformative Golden Valley development – an undertaking that has captured the attention of the global cyber community. Whilst it was perhaps an ambitious move to undertake such a project, we have been able to confidently liase with key stakeholders and progress activities in accordance with the project timeline, thanks to the exceptional skills and experience embedded within our team.
In 2024, we shall continue to develop our Strategic Workforce Plan in response to the businesses growth ambitions and this will include continued learning and development of our people.
Creating place and protecting the planet
A shared value among our team is a deep rooted commitment to environmental stewardship – something that binds us together as we push the boundaries of sustainability.
In the coming months, we will showcase our dedication to responsible business, as we complete £186M GDV of Net Zero Carbon developments – testament to the innovative ideas and ambition driving our team.
Those completions include Momentum in Rainham, London. Spanning 20 acres, Rainham is a ground-breaking industrial and logistics development with sustainability at its core; the scheme will achieve Net Zero carbon in operation, an A+ EPC rating, BREEAM Excellent rating, and Net Zero carbon in construction.
Manchester’s Island meanwhile represents a cutting-edge office development meticulously designed to meet the ESG and amenity demands of contemporary occupiers. With an EPC A rating, a targeted Nabers of 5.5 stars, and BREEAM Excellent certification, Island aligns seamlessly with the UK Green Buildings Council Net Zero carbon buildings framework. Notably, energy consumption at Island will be an impressive 46% lower than the 2020 Real Estate Environmental Benchmark.
These are just two of the projects that will complete in 2024 that demonstrate our commitment to reduce the environmental impact of our business activities, embedding sustainability in every facet of our operations and addressing the challenges of climate change head-on.
Two heads are better than one.
Pioneering large-scale developments inevitably present challenges, and we are always grateful of the role played by our partners across our diverse portfolio of projects.
We’re currently working with 26 joint venture partners – including some very long-term relationships like the 20-year partnership we’ve enjoyed with Derbyshire County Council. Together, we’ve spearheaded the long-term regeneration of Markham Vale, resulting in the creation of approximately 3,000 new jobs (and counting).
As we step into 2024, we are actively seeking even more collaborations, leveraging our proven track record to forge partnerships that contribute to transformative projects that positively add to the communities they’re located in.
I am genuinely excited about HBD’s future and look forward to sharing our journey with you.