LAND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLISHES SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Plan sets out ambition for LDA to be leaders in the creation of sustainable homes and communities

The Land Development Agency (LDA) has published its Sustainable Development Strategy, which sets out a roadmap for the organisation to achieve its ambition of maximising the supply of affordable and social homes while mitigating environmental impacts and boosting biodiversity gains.

The LDA has identified six strategic objectives –medium term focus on mitigating carbon impact and focusing on the potential for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) across the LDA portfolio.

The strategic objectives of the LDA are to:

Reduce Carbon (Embodied and Operational)
Promote Water Stewardship
Optimise Sustainable Land-Use & Mobility
Enhance Biodiversity & Climate Resilience
Promote Circularity
Support the Creation of Social Value
Sustainable development is a central consideration in all LDA projects. The Agency is keenly aware of the impact of construction and building management on our ecological and social systems and has been taking steps to mitigate these effects. This Strategy establishes the LDA’s baseline targets and identifies areas of research and investigation required to improve on these.

This plan is the formalisation of many initiatives already being undertaken by the organisation, such as the adoption of the LDA’s Apartment Typology Booklet, which not only standardises the approach to apartment design and facilitates the most efficient delivery of homes, but also addresses energy efficiency and universal design.

Strict sustainability criteria is embedded in all LDA projects and partnerships. This was most clearly demonstrated in our recent housebuilder partnerships panel framework (known as ‘Project Tosaigh’) announcement. All of the homebuilders who qualified had to meet the sustainability thresholds contained in the Strategy to be considered for the framework, and our partners on future projects will have to align with its targets.

Collaboration and innovation will be central to the success of this Strategy. The LDA has cultivated strong relationships with partners across a wide range of sectors – Government Departments and Agencies, Local Authorities, State bodies, third level institutions, home builders and industry peers – and will maximise these connections to deliver our sustainability ambitions.

The Agency recognises the need for high quality evidence based data, and has actively supported research on sustainability and the built environment since its establishment. Current LDA supported research projects are focussing on biodiversity in the built environment, and post-occupancy building performance and tenant wellbeing.

The organisation is also supporting research by the IGBC and Construct Innovate to develop a national methodology and benchmarking tool for whole life carbon evaluation.

John Coleman, Chief Executive of the Land Development Agency said: “The publication of the Sustainable Development Strategy sends a strong signal to our partners, stakeholders and the public that the LDA is committed to becoming a leader in the creation and delivery of sustainable homes and communities.

“The plan identifies a clear pathway to achieve our ambition of driving positive change in the planning, design, construction and stewardship of the built environment for the benefit of all. It commits the Agency to establishing industry leading targets to reduce carbon, enhance biodiversity and promote circularity across its portfolio of projects, benchmarked against strict performance criteria.

“This will enable the LDA to deliver its programme of homebuilding, while mitigating the potential negative ecological impacts and supporting the creation of social value”.

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Michael McDonnell Managing  Editor of Irish Construction Industry Magazine & Plan Magazine

Email: michael@irishconstruction.com      WWW.MCDMEDIA.IE  WWW.IRISHCONSTRUCTION.COM