OCTOBER 24 2024, LONDON – The Earls Court Development Company (ECDC), who recently submitted planning applications to develop the c.44 acre former Earls Court Exhibition Centres site, today had its net-zero targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The SBTi is a rigorous corporate climate action organisation that helps companies worldwide set realistic pathways for reducing their carbon emissions.  

Working with sustainability consultants, Hoare Lea, ECDC gathered data on energy consumption and emissions across the masterplan to establish the carbon baseline. From there, they created a pathway to reduce emissions, within a trajectory set by the SBTi. ECDC has committed to targets of reaching overall net zero greenhouse gas emissions across its site by 2050, and in the near term, to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2032.   

Central to ECDC’s strategy is an all-electric energy approach to eliminate carbon emissions and reduce pollutant levels. High-performing residential buildings will be designed following Passivhaus principles, which dramatically reduce the need for space heating/cooling. Working to the highest sustainable standards, towards both BREEAM and Nabers, the site has an innovative 5th generation energy sharing network delivering net zero operational carbon energy from Day One. This network has the added ability to convert waste heat from other sources and neighbours, and repurpose it as useful energy for others, resulting in further reductions in environmental impact.   

The landscape-led masterplan with 20 acres of green and public open space will achieve a Biodiversity Net gain of c.85%, forming a defense against air pollutants. A comprehensive ‘water neutral’ management strategy, involving capture, storage and reuse will minimise runoff into the London waste systems, whilst also providing atmospheric cooling.   

The built environment is currently the second largest contributor of carbon emissions, globally, emitting around 40% of the world’s total greenhouse gases.  Having targets approved by the SBTi places ECDC amongst a select group of other organisations operating in the real estate sector who have also mapped out achievable pathways to meet their net-zero carbon objectives.   

Peter Runacres, Head of Urban Futures for ECDC said: “Embedding sustainability throughout all stages of decision-making at Earls Court is, quite simply, the right thing to do, and its impact can be traced from a macro, planetary scale down to the air being breathed by our neighbours around site. We are pleased that our targets have now been officially validated by the SBTi, and look forward to the next stages of implementing our plans.”  

Greg Jones, Director at Hoare Lea said: “ECDC’s achievement is significant; setting both short and long-term validated science-based targets establishes them to be a climate leader. ECDC is a progressive client;  it has been very rewarding to work in collaboration with them to develop their Principles for Future Living, Earls Court masterplan sustainability strategy and Race to Zero plan.” 

Last month ECDC submitted planning applications to develop the former Earls Court Exhibition Centres site into an inspiring neighbourhood that sets a new benchmark for urban development and is a global exemplar of sustainability. The plans include c.4,000 new homes, 20 acres of public green and open space, three new anchor cultural venues and 2.9 million sq ft of workspace supporting start-ups, scale ups, creatives and multinationals of the clean and climate technology industry.