The Council which met for the first time on 29 June, comprises CEOs from a cross section of the country’s homebuilders including those of the largest eight homebuilders to small companies at the forefront of building zero carbon sustainable homes. Its purpose is to help lead the sector’s rapid journey to being zero carbon and nature positive. The 2021 regulation changes reduce operational carbon by over 30%, Biodiversity Net Gain to be introduced in November 2023 means all sites will improve biodiversity by 10%, the 2025 Future Homes Standard will make all new homes zero carbon ready, the water efficiency roadmap sets the pathway to reduced water consumption, the embodied and Whole Life Carbon implementation plan prepares the sector for deeper emissions reduction, and so on. 

 
The actions from the first council meeting are to ramp up sharing, further develop the roadmap including where additional quick action can be taken and develop the sector’s communications to bring everyone on the journey. The largest ten companies have agreed substantially increased financial contributions to the Hub to support this collaboration and help SMEs in particular. The Council will meet every six months to agree actions for the sector. Read more about the five key messages from the first Council: 

 
Commitment: universal resolution that making rapid and continuous progress on environmental sustainability is core to a successful industry in the short, medium and longer term. All our stakeholders whether investors, customers and future customers, employees, Councils and political parties are increasingly aligning on this. 

 
Roadmap: change is complex and we depend on 1) manufacturers, infrastructure and trades being on the same journey and 2) investors, local government and central government agreeing, understanding and reinforcing the pathway. But as a sector we must lead and think well ahead of government and communicate the dependencies clearly, otherwise we will fail. Continuing to develop and amplify the roadmap is, therefore, vital. 

 
Collaboration: agreement that all companies should share R&D. We must highlight and scale up the best exemplars. Close partnership with supply chain is fundamental. 

 
SMEs: recognition of the need, and agreement, to support SMEs to navigate change when many are in survival mode, especially through sharing technical solutions. 

 
Customer: last (but arguably first) is laser focus on building ever better homes and places for residents and their communities. 

Terms of reference to be published shortly. The Council will meet every six months to agree actions for the sector, and membership of the Council will rotate, reflecting that leadership for sustainability must be shared right across the sector.