As the North East Green Investment and Energy Summit takes place in the North East, it offers a chance to reflect on how sustainability is no longer an “add-on” in the built environment and outline the opportunities a focus on a more eco-friendly approach might offer.

For architects, developers and planners, “thinking green” and embedding energy reduction practices into projects are now fundamental to how residential and commercial /industrial schemes are designed, approved and delivered.

Across the North East, sustainability is a consideration at the earliest stage of design. New developments are planned around low-energy principles, with building orientation, fabric/materials performance and passive design techniques used to reduce energy demand and usage.

Insulation, air-tight construction, triple glazing, low-carbon heating systems (like air source heat pumps) – all these things that were previously “nice to haves “are now standard operating procedure in our game.

And it doesn’t stop there. Alongside energy reduction, on-site renewable generation is a core component of modern schemes. Solar panels are integrated into roof designs; battery storage is commonplace and EV charging provision is expected as part of both residential and commercial developments.

In industrial and business projects, larger roof spans and sites offer opportunities for extensive solar arrays, a massive plus for businesses helping reduce operating costs while supporting decarbonisation efforts.

The North East is blessed with an abundance of H2O, but water efficiency and resilience are also key considerations. Rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) reduce pressure on existing (sometimes ageing) infrastructure and lower long-term running costs for people.

Then you have things like green roofs, permeable surfaces and landscaping strategies used not only for flood mitigation but to enhance wellbeing and create a generally more pleasant environment.

Planning policy has been a major driver, with Biodiversity Net Gain requirements requiring developments to leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than before. This has led to thoughtful planning, increased green space, habitat creation and stronger links between developments and their surrounding landscapes.

Crucially, the focus on green investment is delivering tangible economic benefits for us in the North East. The growth of sustainable construction is creating an estimated 25,000 jobs across design, engineering, manufacturing and installation. Local supply chains for renewables, low-carbon materials and green infrastructure are expanding, helping to retain investment and expertise within our region.

For homeowners, the result is housing that is warmer, cheaper to run and more resilient to future energy price shocks. For businesses – more efficient buildings that support productivity, help attract talent and align with ESG commitments.

As architects, we see sustainability not as a constraint, but as an opportunity – to design better places, support economic growth and play our part in building a lower-carbon, more resilient North East.