Climate change and net zero

Committed to net zero

We have set an ambitious target to be net zero aligned in our operations by 2035 and reach net zero across our value chain by 2045 – ahead of the UK’s national target. Our net zero target for 2045 has been independently validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) confirming that it is aligned with the SBTi’s 1.5°C mitigation pathways for reaching net zero by 2050 or sooner. This is currently the most ambitious designation available through the SBTi process. Our near term carbon reduction targets have also been SBTi validated.

We published our Net Zero Transition Plan and roadmap in 2023, setting out the steps we are taking across our business to achieve our targets.
Our approach to carbon reduction encompasses:

• Reducing energy use and emissions from our construction sites, fleet and offices 
• Working towards zero carbon ready homes for customers and supporting sustainable lifestyles
• Working with suppliers and others to address embodied carbon in materials, services and products 
• Collaborating across our industry and beyond on efforts to reduce emissions

Reducing emissions from our operations

We are tackling operational emissions by improving our processes, investing in low carbon technologies and buying REGO-backed green electricity.

We purchase 100% renewable electricity for new sites during construction, offices, show homes, sales areas and plots before sale. In 2024 this was around 85% of our total Group electricity consumption (2023: 79%). Our green electricity is REGO backed, confirming it comes from genuine renewable energy.

We have set energy reduction targets for each regional business to drive improvements. Our Sustainability Champions work with our site teams to reduce energy use on site and apply our Energy Use Dos and Don’ts guide. 

Company car fleet

We operate two car benefit schemes – one for employees who are entitled to a car benefit as part of their job role and the other is available to all employees on a salary sacrifice basis.  Our ‘MyDrive’ salary sacrifice scheme enables employees to have access to a new low emission car, fully maintained, and provided in a tax-efficient way. It incentivises employees to choose electric and ultra-low emission vehicles. Across both car benefit schemes, we now only offer cars with a CO2 rating of less than 110g/km (2023: 110g/km) and no diesel cars in line with our strategy to reduce our fleet CO2 emissions.  

By the end of 2024 we had reached 88% EV or hybrid cars (2023: 72%). Many of our offices now have electric vehicle charging points. We have reduced car and grey fleet emissions by 28.2% since our 2019 baseline (2023: 21.1%).

Tackling embodied carbon

Embodied carbon in the goods and services we buy accounts for around half of our carbon footprint. To meet our net zero goals, it is essential to work with suppliers and the wider industry to tackle embodied carbon. 

We are developing our decarbonisation roadmaps for key materials such as bricks and concrete, and engaging our supply base on tackling embodied carbon. We established an internal materials decarbonisation working group in 2024 to help lead this work. We are in the process of calculating the embodied carbon for a sample of our standard house types to help inform future decision-making on materials use and supplier engagement. 

To help us identify opportunities for improvement we are asking suppliers to provide Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). These are based on life cycle assessments and include quantification of embodied carbon. However, EPDs are not yet available for all products. During 2024, one focus area has been pre-cast concrete. We integrated sustainability requirements into our tender process, and used EPDs and discussions with potential suppliers to understand the relative carbon impact of different products.

We have also been exploring the potential use of eco bricks and other brick slip systems that can reduce materials use and transport emissions. We are increasing our use of concrete bricks which can have lower embodied carbon than traditional bricks due to not being kiln fired and have introduced a new roof tile range that has 25% lower embodied carbon than alternative products. We are also reviewing the use of block types with a higher air content which can reduce materials use and embodied carbon and can offer better thermal insulation. 

Timber frame

Timber frame can reduce embodied carbon in materials by around 15% compared with traditional ‘brick and block’ building techniques.

We’ve established our own timber frame manufacturing facility which delivered its first kits to our sites in 2024. In combination with our existing suppliers, our own facility will help us in our goal to increase timber frame usage to 30% of our completions by 2030 (2024: 16%). The facility is expected to produce around 3,000 kits per year at full capacity.

Our factory building has a BREEAM Excellent rating and Taylor Wimpey Manufacturing has achieved certification to the ISO 9001 quality management standard and the Structural Timber Frame Association Gold Assure standard. Responsible timber sourcing requirements are integrated into supplier contracts and the facility has achieved certification by PEFC. 

Going forward, we will be exploring opportunities to develop our timber frame systems to further reduce materials use and embodied carbon and to reduce and reuse wood waste from off-cuts. 

Assurance

Our carbon and energy use data is externally assured by Carbon Trust Assurance to a limited assurance level. This includes verification to ISO 14064 for our scope 1 and 2 footprint, and three selected scope 3 categories (Purchased Goods and Services, Fuel and Energy-related Activities and Use of Sold Products).

Read more

We publish a detailed disclosure against the recommendations of the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures in our Annual Report and Accounts covering our climate scenario analysis and approach to climate risks and opportunities. We have published a Net Zero Transition Plan setting out how we will respond to our identified climate risks and opportunities and achieve our net zero target.

Net Zero Transition Plan

Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures

Our CDP 2024 Score Reports and Carbon Trust Assurance Statements can be found below:  

Carbon Reporting Methodology (scope 1 and 2)

Carbon Reporting Methodology (scope 3)

Carbon Trust Assurance Statement 2024 Greenhouse gas emissions

CDP submissions 2024

Carbon Trust Waste Assurance Statement 2024

ESOS Phase 3 Board Report