Environment and sustainability

Planning a sustainable future

Protecting the environment and ensuring our homes are energy efficient for customers to run are key priorities for Hightown. We prioritise gas free developments and all the new homes we developed in 2025/26 incorporated low carbon heating and hot water systems.  All these new homes achieved an EPC rating of Band B or above, with one in five rated Band A.   

As part of our wider sustainability ambition, in 2025/26 we carry out am environmental assessment through SHIFT Environment, a recognised accreditation standard for the housing sector.  In 2024/25, we achieved ‘Silver’ accreditation level.  The assessment sets out science-based improvement targets across more than 50 environmental criteria, and will inform the development of our sustainability strategy, set to launch in 2027/28.  

At the time of the SHIFT assessment, over 99% of our 7,000 plus rental homes were rated EPC Band C or above, with an average SAP rating of 81.35, placing Hightown first among the 40 housing providers assessed by SHIFT on this measure. 

Alongside this, our ongoing stock condition survey programme continues to strengthen our understanding of the environmental performance of our homes, including where measures such as wall, floor and loft insulation can further improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.