Building contractor Willmott Dixon is using its work on some of Bristol’s largest construction projects to prepare it to become the industry leader in sustainability.
The Hertfordshire-headquartered firm, which has a regional office at Ham Green, near Bristol, this week announced a series of ambitious commitments as part of its newly released sustainability strategy. 
Entitled ‘Now or Never; our decisive decade’, the strategy includes the commitment that Willmott Dixon will become net zero carbon in its operations by 2030, with all new build and refurbishment projects delivered from 2030 also net zero carbon in use.
It is also aiming for its supply chain partners to be net zero carbon by 2040, the first UK construction company to commit to such targets.
The firm is behind a number of significant projects in Bristol, including the Halo office development on the former headquarters of Avon Fire and Rescue at Finzels Reach. With seven floors and nearly 120,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, Halo will set new standards of sustainability, wellbeing and digital connectivity when it opens in 2022 with international law firm Osborne Clarke as its main occupier.
Other recent projects include Aurora, pictured, also in Finzels Reach – the first BREEAM 2014 Outstanding office development to be built outside of London, the Hawkins Lane and Georges Wharf apartments, creating 194 homes in Bristol’s largest build-to-rent scheme, and the multi-million pound transformation of Bristol Beacon (formerly the Colston Hall), one of the most complex and ambitious arts regeneration projects in the UK, which started in 2018 and is still ongoing.
Willmott Dixon deputy managing director John Boughton said the sustainability strategy fitted in with its work in the city, which last year became first major UK city to declare a climate emergency and has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2030,
“By taking bold action, we can make sure we create a better future for generations to come,” said Mr Boughton.
“We are absolutely committed to playing our part in creating a carbon free construction sector and a ‘greener’ built environment. This strategy creates a road map for us for the next decade, which includes setting out how we will need to work together with our customers, supply chain partners and industry colleagues.
“It is also important to us that we are playing our part locally in working towards an inclusive and sustainable city. As a business based in Bristol and delivering a number of construction projects here, we have a significant contribution to make towards the ambitious targets in the Bristol One City Plan, led by Bristol City Council and launched last year – our strategy will ensure we do that.”
The Now or Never strategy – which was launched with the support of renowned sustainability campaigner and co-founder of Forum for the Future, Jonathon Porritt – is split into three themes: Brilliant Buildings, Buildings Lives, and Better Planet, which reflect Willmott Dixon’s aim to deliver low carbon products; protect, nurture and enhance the environment; create better life opportunities for people and leave a positive legacy for future generations to benefit from.
Other targets in the strategy include:
- 1,000 people who face major barriers to finding work will be supported in finding long-term careers
- Improving the lives of 100,000 people through a series of interventions by Willmott Dixon people
- All buildings and major refurbishments will be delivered with net zero embodied carbon by 2040, with a net reduction in embodied carbon of 55% by 2030
- 100,000 trees to be planted by 2030
Willmott Dixon has been a net zero or carbon neutral business since 2012, with all unavoidable carbon emitted each year being offset by investing in high quality carbon reduction projects across the world, while reducing carbon emissions intensity from its own operations by 61% since 2010. 
The new strategy is underpinned by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), which has approved Willmott Dixon’s emissions reductions targets as being in line with an overall need to limit a global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels to prevent the most damaging effects of climate change.
Jonathan Sykes, executive chairman of sustainability data and consulting firm Carbon Intelligence said: “Willmott Dixon has set the most ambitious science-based target in the construction sector by aiming for zero emissions in its operations by 2030 and supply chain by 2040. Its actions will have a significant influence on reducing the climate impact of the built environment in the UK.”
