Sustainability Statement
A Sustainability Statement takes a broad view of how a proposed development addresses environmental, social, and economic sustainability. While an Energy Statement focuses specifically on energy and carbon, a Sustainability Statement covers a much wider range of topics including water efficiency, materials, waste, biodiversity, climate change adaptation, health and wellbeing, and community impact. It is the overarching document that draws together the development's approach to sustainable design and construction.
Typical Cost
£300 – £5,000+
Turnaround
1 – 6 weeks
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What is a Sustainability Statement?
A Sustainability Statement is a planning document that assesses a proposed development against a range of sustainability criteria, demonstrating how the design has been informed by sustainability principles and how the completed development will perform against environmental, social, and economic benchmarks. It addresses topics such as energy efficiency, water conservation, sustainable materials selection, waste minimisation during construction and operation, ecology and biodiversity enhancement, flood risk and climate resilience, transport and accessibility, indoor environmental quality, and long-term management arrangements.
When is a Sustainability Statement required?
Sustainability Statements are required by many local authorities for major planning applications, and some councils require them for all new-build applications. The requirement is typically set out in local plan policies that mandate developments to meet specified sustainability standards or demonstrate consideration of sustainability across a range of topics. In London, the Sustainability Statement forms part of the suite of documents required for GLA-referable applications. Some authorities accept a BREEAM pre-assessment or a sustainability checklist in lieu of a full statement, so it is important to check the specific requirements of the relevant council.
What does a Sustainability Statement include?
A comprehensive Sustainability Statement covers the following topics in a structured format: energy strategy and carbon reduction including reference to the separate Energy Statement where applicable, water efficiency measures and targets for consumption reduction, sustainable materials selection including responsible sourcing and use of recycled content, construction waste management proposals and targets for diversion from landfill, ecology and biodiversity net gain proposals, climate change adaptation measures including flood resilience and green infrastructure, transport strategy and promotion of sustainable travel modes, health and wellbeing considerations including access to daylight, outdoor amenity space, and active design principles, and long-term management and maintenance arrangements to ensure sustainability features remain effective throughout the building's life.
How much does a Sustainability Statement cost?
A Sustainability Statement for a minor residential scheme typically costs between £1,500 and £3,000. Major residential developments usually require statements costing £3,000 to £6,000, depending on the breadth of topics to be covered and the level of quantitative analysis required. Large mixed-use or commercial schemes, particularly those in London requiring GLA referral, may cost £6,000 to £12,000 as the statement must address the full range of London Plan sustainability policies.
Who can prepare a Sustainability Statement?
Sustainability Statements are prepared by sustainability consultants, environmental consultants, or building services engineers with broad expertise across the range of sustainability topics. Qualified BREEAM assessors and members of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) are well placed to prepare these documents. The breadth of topics covered often requires input from multiple disciplines including energy, ecology, drainage, and transport specialists.
How long does a Sustainability Statement take?
A Sustainability Statement typically takes 4 to 8 weeks to prepare, as it requires input from several members of the design team. The statement draws together information from the architect, energy consultant, drainage engineer, ecologist, and transport planner, so coordination across disciplines is essential. The document cannot be finalised until the design is sufficiently developed across all sustainability topics, and should be prepared in parallel with other technical reports.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a Sustainability Statement and an Energy Statement?
An Energy Statement focuses specifically on energy demand, carbon emissions, and renewable energy provision. A Sustainability Statement covers a much broader range of topics including water, materials, waste, ecology, climate adaptation, health, and transport. The Energy Statement is often a standalone document that is cross-referenced within the wider Sustainability Statement. Some local authorities accept a single combined document.
Does a Sustainability Statement replace a BREEAM assessment?
Not necessarily. Some local authorities require specific BREEAM certification targets and a Sustainability Statement does not substitute for this. However, where a council's policy requires a broad demonstration of sustainability credentials without mandating BREEAM, a Sustainability Statement may suffice. In many cases, both a BREEAM pre-assessment and a Sustainability Statement are submitted, with the statement providing the overarching narrative and the BREEAM assessment providing quantified performance benchmarks.
What sustainability standards should the statement reference?
The statement should reference the relevant local plan sustainability policies, the National Planning Policy Framework, and any applicable supplementary planning documents. It may also reference standards such as BREEAM, the Home Quality Mark, Passivhaus, Building Regulations Part L and Part G, and industry benchmarks such as the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge targets. The specific standards to reference depend on the local authority's policy requirements.
How does biodiversity net gain fit into a Sustainability Statement?
Since November 2023, most developments in England must deliver a minimum 10 per cent biodiversity net gain under the Environment Act 2021. The Sustainability Statement should address biodiversity by summarising the ecological baseline, the proposed habitat creation and enhancement measures, and the projected net gain percentage. A separate detailed Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment and Metric calculation will typically be submitted alongside the statement.
Do I need a Sustainability Statement for a householder application?
Sustainability Statements are generally not required for householder extensions or alterations. They are primarily required for major applications and new-build developments. However, some councils encourage applicants for all types of development to complete a sustainability checklist, which is a simplified version of a full statement. Check your local authority's validation requirements.
What water efficiency measures should be included?
The statement should specify water-efficient fixtures and fittings that will achieve the target consumption rate — either 125 litres per person per day (Building Regulations Part G mandatory standard) or 110 litres per person per day (the optional higher standard required by many local policies). Measures include dual-flush toilets, low-flow taps and showerheads, water-efficient appliances, rainwater harvesting, and greywater recycling systems where appropriate.
How should construction waste be addressed?
The Sustainability Statement should include a commitment to preparing a Site Waste Management Plan that sets targets for diverting construction waste from landfill, typically aiming for 90 to 95 per cent diversion. It should describe the waste segregation arrangements on site, identify materials that will be reused or recycled, and estimate the volume of waste arising during construction. Reference to the waste hierarchy — prevent, reuse, recycle, recover, dispose — provides a useful framework.
What is climate change adaptation and how should it be covered?
Climate change adaptation refers to measures that prepare the development for the expected impacts of climate change, including hotter summers, more intense rainfall, rising sea levels, and increased storm frequency. The Sustainability Statement should address how the development will remain comfortable and safe under future climate scenarios through measures such as shading, natural ventilation, green roofs, sustainable drainage, and flood-resilient design.
Can a Sustainability Statement help my planning application?
A well-prepared Sustainability Statement can positively influence the planning decision by demonstrating that the development takes environmental responsibilities seriously and complies with sustainability policies in the local plan. Planning officers assess applications against policy, and a thorough statement makes it easy for the officer to confirm compliance. In marginal cases, strong sustainability credentials can help tip the balance in favour of approval.
What is the circular economy and should the statement cover it?
The circular economy is an approach that minimises waste and maximises resource efficiency by designing buildings for longevity, adaptability, and eventual disassembly and reuse. Some local authorities — particularly in London under London Plan Policy SI 7 — require a separate Circular Economy Statement. Where this is the case, the Sustainability Statement should cross-reference the Circular Economy Statement. Where no separate document is required, the statement should still address design for durability, materials reuse, and waste reduction.