Poor-quality empty buildings are bad enough, but environmentally poor-quality empty buildings will be unsaleable and unlettable in the future. It’s a stark statement, and I’m the first to admit that not all real estate investors, owners and occupiers have been convinced of this yet, despite the growing evidence. While there are some indications that sustainable properties are more valuable — being easier to let and selling for more — there are some for whom the jury is still out on the commercial value of sustainability.
But along with the still-to-be-convinced are a growing number of property investors who realise that they must act now to ensure that their portfolios will survive the regulatory and sustainability tests to come — and as their positions improve, others will follow.
Many of these forward-thinking companies are members of the
