Overview
Southern Housing is one of the largest housing associations in the UK, owning and managing over 80,000 homes across London, Midlands and the South East. A not-for-profit housing provider, its social purpose is the foundation for all of its work. Southern Housing is determined to maximise the positive difference its makes to society, and minimises its impact on the climate.
As part of this, Southern Housing is focused on sustainability and biodiversity, to make sure its homes and communities are more ecologically sound, energy efficient, and resilient to climate change.
Challenge
Southern Housing needs to understand its progress towards achieving its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) targets, regulatory Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and sustainability and biodiversity objectives. For example, achieving a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C for its homes with reduced access to fuel, by 2030.
Bethany Austin, Sustainability and Reporting Manager for Southern Housing, said:
“Not only do we need to better understand our assets and responsibilities, we have to regularly monitor and report on multiple regulatory KPIs, gauge our ESG performance, and demonstrate how we’re fulfilling our commitments in our Environmental Sustainability Strategy.”
Solution
Southern Housing is using Ordnance Survey (OS) data to monitor its progress towards achieving its sustainability, and in particular, biodiversity goals.
AddressBase® helps Southern Housing link its properties to Unique Property Reference Numbers (UPRNs), matching homes with key information, such as the Open Source Energy Performance of Buildings data, which contains the key data items of every EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) logged.
ArcGIS, a type of Geographic Information System (GIS) software Southern Housing is using via OS Partner, Esri, ‘support[s] the use of OS data in the ArcGIS system, including ready-to-use offline data and connectors for OS tools APIs’.
Southern Housing is also using OS MasterMap Topography Layer to map its greenspaces, helping it understand its current natural assets, and identify where it needs to increase biodiversity, making sure residents have access to nature.
Kerry Briffitt, Biodiversity & Sustainability Projects Lead, Southern Housing, said:
“GIS is vital to help us map, manage, record, and report on our biodiversity action plans. Most importantly, it’s demonstrating how we’re delivering against our main metric of supporting 30 flora and fauna species by creating and enhancing 30 habitats by 2030.”
Benefits
Southern Housing now has a single view of its asset data, covering 80,000 homes, meaning more informed decision-making.
The OS data and mapping highlights clusters where homes need to be made more energy efficient, meaning Southern Housing can now take action in a cost-effective way.
Southern Housing is also able to use GIS software to measure biodiversity before and after new housing developments are built, and liaises with both internal and external stakeholders. New wildlife habitats, plants and insects are being added and encouraged, giving residents more access to nature.
Additional insights, such as which homes are at risk from flooding, allow Southern Housing to support its communities to become more resilient.
Kara Tomes Meek, Head of Sustainability, Southern Housing, added:
“ArcGIS is a powerful tool to help us measure the sustainability of our homes. We’re not only fulfilling regulatory or investor reporting requirements, but also demonstrating our clear commitment to improving our homes and communities for our residents.”