Energy and renewables

The Stern Review confirmed climate change as an essential factor to be taken into account when planning land use and development. Climate change will affect every home and business. Developers, investors and their professional advisers need to address the effects at each stage - from buying land to completing the development and beyond.

What are the risks?

•
costs - failure to adapt to climate change could mean that a development will be too expensive to run, too uncomfortable to live or work in, and even uninsurable later in its life. This will have serious implications when owners attempt to sell or let the property
•
legislation - building regulations and standards are imposing increasingly strict duties. By failing to take voluntary measures now (anticipating future requirements), there is a risk that more expensive remedial measures and 'retrofitting' might be required (eg on refurbishment, sale or letting) to ensure compliance as legislation comes into force
•
reputation risks - an organisation's brand could be harmed if a failure to address climate change were to threaten the sustainability of a building, development or land; for instance, because flooding or high temperatures

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