Annual Report 2012 - Development Securities PLC

Case study
Who Owns the City
In November 2011, we launched the
fourth report in a series of major
studies investigating the ownership of
City office buildings. Researched and
written by the University of Cambridge,
it was launched at an event attended by
over 250 industry peers and
professionals.
Investment portfolio
Our investment portfolio is a deliberately diverse range of
properties with many types of end use and therefore it is
very challenging to apply universal principles. Within our
portfolio there may be situations in which focused
investment could make individual properties significantly
more environmentally and socially sustainable, and more
successful for tenants, thereby adding value.
In 2011 we commissioned an ‘environmental’ study
of the current portfolio, which will be completed in 2012.
It is expected to identify specific opportunities to improve
our CSR performance at some properties, and to
highlight general principles that may be used to guide
improvement in our longer-term property management
and development.
Other development and trading
and joint ventures
The majority of these properties are owned and
developed in conjunction with joint venture or project
partners. Our focus is therefore to play an influential role
by working with our partners to ensure their good
Table of targets and performance for 2011/12 and targets for 2012/13 – Other development and trading and joint ventures
Corporate Responsibility
This study will examine energy use, emissions, waste
management, public transport facilities, the provision
of public facilities, landscaping and ‘public realm’ and
existing partnerships with local communities.
This will allow us to establish benchmarks and set
targets on which we will report in future years.
The study has already identified a number of
examples of the support that Development Securities
PLC provides to the community. For example, the use of
empty shops as ‘pop up units’ for temporary charitable
use at The Furlong shopping centre and the provision
of accredited training opportunities for staff at
Atlantic Village.
environmental, social and governance practice. This
not only helps the spread of good practice across our
industry but it also provides an important aspect of
risk management for our Company.
Target for 2011/12 Progress in 2011/12 Target for 2012/13
Develop a ‘briefing document’ for our JV All our JV partners are now aware of our commitment to
To continue this.
partners and Investment team.
responsible development.
Issue guidance notes to our JV partners We encourage our partners to report on the same basis that we do. To continue this and for the Head of Delivery to disseminate the
and encourage them to adopt our
Some of our partners are advanced in aspects of sustainable
information throughout the Company.
objectives and target.
development and we aim to learn from them to improve our own
performance.
Development Securities PLC / Annual Report 2012 35