As a regional property development company and planning consultant, Building Partnerships demands design and development solutions that question conventional development in order to promote a low carbon economy. We have extensive contacts and experience in East Anglia working with specialist multi-disciplinary organisations. We are able to build partnerships with specialists in all stages of the development process through feasibility study, site identification, design, construction and project management that promote ‘Green’ design. The development teams can include architects, quantity surveyors, highways engineers, structural engineers, plant and machinery engineers, amongst others. Buildings are responsible for around 52% of the UK’s Carbon Footprint. Residential buildings are working towards carbon neutral by 2016 through the Code for Sustainable Homes. Commercial buildings are assessed against the BREEAM standard where “excellent” is the highest category. Through its philosophy Building Partnerships aspires to solutions that set new standards in development. “In the last 15 years, there has been a 30% increase in global carbon dioxide production, mainly as a result of burning fossil fuels. The media and the government are increasingly drawing public attention to the issues around global warming but little time is given to the problems generated by buildings and property. As an environmentally-friendly development company, we constantly strive to reduce the environmental impact of all our developments and encourage the use of natural or renewable energy sources,” explains Chairman Paul Knowles. On ecology, Building Partnerships contributes to reducing the impacts and consequences of property development. Ecology should be better incorporated within the development process. Building Partnerships is concerned about biodiversity. In all our schemes we strive to respect and enhance flora, fauna and habitat diversity.

Plans for Norfolk’s first green offices Pioneering plans for Norfolk's first purpose-built green office development have been met with opposition from families living close to the proposed site. The Dakenham Project would see the development of 20 offices on the border of Salhouse and Rackheath, on Station Road, Salhouse, powered by renewable energy sources such as wind turbines. Plans have been submitted to Broadland District Council for the scheme which is aimed at small businesses with a green conscience.