Future Foundations
Building a better South West: 2001 - 2009
Future Foundations was set up in 2001 by Sustainability South West with the support of regional partners with the aim to normalise sustainable construction in the South West. A hefty 50% of carbon emissions come from the construction and operation of our built environment, so building sustainably is an important agenda for us all.
In 2007, Future Foundations launched the South West Sustainability Checklist for Developments. This free on-line tool aids planners and developers in making sustainable decisions at the master planning stage of any new build.
Future Foundations also developed the Sustainable Construction Charter in 2001 with 17 Charter Principles, which enabled bodies to make a pledge to sustainability and follow a simple guideline towards best sustainable practise. Over 163 public and private bodies made their pledge to the Charter.
The project looks at a range of construction issues including sustainable communities, low to zero carbon development, resource efficiency and sustainable procurement. Through these areas, the programme influences policy, raises awareness and develops tools to help make the implementation of sustainable construction as easy as possible for the construction industry.
The future of Future Foundations:
As of April 2009 the Future Foundations project has moved from being a Sustainability South West partnership project to be mainstreamed as an integrated partnership with the region’s Constructing Excellence initiative. Together they are working to identify and embed best practice and emerging agendas for sustainable construction into the regional construction activities. This is achieved by coordinated action working with a wide range of regional partners.
For more information, visit the Future Foundations and Constructing Excellence joint website Building a Better South West.
© 2007 Sustainability South West - UK registered charity, no. 1106125 - info@sustainabilitysouthwest.org.uk.