A coalition of real estate industry organisations is calling on the UK government to publish its plans on future minimum energy efficiency standards for the commercial real estate sector.
The Green Property Alliance (GPA)* has written to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho MP, demanding a ‘full and prompt response’ to its 2021 consultation on minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) for the non-domestic private rented sector in England.
The GPA represents investors, owners, developers and managers of, and lenders to, commercial real estate, who collectively manage hundreds of billions of pounds of assets across the UK in a variety of asset classes including offices, retail, industrial and logistics.
In the letter, the organisation calls for the government to publish a full response to the 2021 consultation on the implementation of new minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) for the non-domestic private rented sector, with details on EPC targets and timelines. [Priva-Inside reported in August 2023, that the British Property Federation made a similar call for a response].
The GPA has also asked for clarity on the rules around exemptions and enforcement, saying it is necessary to provide investors and the sector with certainty over the future regulatory framework.
The letter says: “Our members and the wider real estate sector have a critical role to play in tackling climate change. Buildings are responsible for around 25% of greenhouse gas emissions – with commercial and industrial buildings accounting for around a third of these emissions.
“We know that we need to accelerate the decarbonisation of the commercial real estate sector – and the wider built environment – if we are to meet our net zero targets and ambitions.”
Signatories support higher minimum standards and have asked for these plans to be published in order to provide investors and the sector with certainty over the future regulatory framework to support investment plans.
The letter is signed by senior leaders at the AREF (The Association of Real Estate Funds), Better Buildings Partnership, British Property Federation, CREFC Europe, EPRA (European Public Real Estate Association), Investment Property Forum, Loan Market Association (LMA), Revo – Retail. Property. Community., RICS, The Association for Rental Living, Society of Property Researchers, and the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC).
The letter from the GPA is now hosted on the GPA website:
*The Green Property Alliance is a committee of the Property Industry Alliance whose purpose is to stimulate industry-wide engagement relating to the sustainability challenges and opportunities.
How can Priva support commercial landlords?
Priva supports regulatory changes that improve building performance – mirroring our own focus on cloud-based solutions that will boost the efficiency and sustainability of commercial buildings.
We welcome conversations with commercial landlords commercial real estate operators or managers who want to make their buildings more energy efficient, smarter and intelligent. Drop us line if you’d like to discuss your energy challenges.
Read more of Priva UK’s blogs about the MEES deadline (and the scale of the EPCs / MEES challenge for commercial landlords).
