City of London pioneers use of BRE's Home Quality Mark

The City of London Corporation has placed the Building Research Establishment’s (BRE) Home Quality Mark (HQM) at the forefront of its two latest social housing initiatives, setting a new benchmark for quality and sustainable living in the sector and beyond.

The City Corporation’s Sydenham Hill Estate and York Way Estate projects will deliver over 200 new homes for social rent that incorporate the use of HQM to provide a comprehensive sustainability audit trail from design to post-occupancy.

This allows the City to accurately benchmark its commitments to sustainable urban housing against its Corporate Climate Action Strategy.

The news marks a major milestone in the uptake of HQM. Building on the trusted science behind BREEAM, the standard was developed by BRE to provide independent verification to housing developers and investors that residential developments have met expected levels of performance. The standard- which has to date certified over 2,000 homes, and is currently being applied to over 25,000 homes across the UK- ensures that housing developments are not only environmentally friendly, but also cost-effective and comfortable to live in.

Gillian Charlesworth, CEO of BRE, said: “As early adopters of the Home Quality Mark, the City Corporation's approach serves as a model for sustainable urban development. Their commitment to high standards in social housing projects in particular sets a benchmark for all future endeavours in the sector.”

The use of HQM on the two projects was accompanied by its wider incorporation into the City Corporation’s Housing Design Guide, which will inform all future aspects of the City’s housing delivery programme. A key factor of the City’s strategic move to implement the framework was HQM’s emphasis on health and wellbeing, helping ensure housing-related decisions are taken with the aim of positively impacting occupants’ health.

With more than 3,100 social housing residents across 12 estates in London and a commitment to deliver an additional 700 high-quality socially rented homes over the next 10 years, HQM will form an integral part of the City’s long-term management and maintenance strategies across its portfolio.

Helen Fentimen, Chair of City of London Corporation’s Community and Children’s Services, said: "The inclusion of the Home Quality Mark in our newest developments reflects the City Corporation’s commitment to high-quality social housing and ensures we not only meet but also exceed sustainability goals, delivering homes that benefit both residents and the broader environment.

"HQM's comprehensive template made it stand out amongst other methodologies we considered and its focus on aspects positively impacting health and wellbeing, particularly Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) objectives, provided clear targeted solutions.”

Gillian Charlesworth, CEO of BRE, added: “As early adopters of the Home Quality Mark, the City Corporation's approach serves as a model for sustainable urban development. Their commitment to high standards in social housing projects in particular sets a benchmark for all future endeavours in the sector.

“The Home Quality Mark is a mark of distinction for developers, investors and residents alike. It not only enhances asset values, but contributes to lower energy bills, healthier living environments and tenant satisfaction that all create a more sustainable future.”