The City Corporation oversees the management of 12 housing estates across London and looks after more than 3,100 social housing residents. They are committed to delivering over 700 new high-quality socially rented homes over the next 10 years. The City Corporation has historically integrated sustainability and community engagement, aligning with its Corporate Climate Action Strategy. The need for setting new benchmarks in sustainable urban housing led to adopting HQM as an independently audited assessment method.  

With UK housing accounting for 15% of all carbon emissions , the City Corporation recognised the need to minimise the environmental impact of new developments. As Michael Gwyther-Jones explained, "The City Corporation has historically approached urban planning with a focus on sustainability, as outlined in its Corporate Climate Action Strategy. This strategy sets ambitious targets for all corporate developments, emphasising the integration of sustainable practices. The City Corporation has prioritised environmental goals and community engagement, ensuring that urban development aligns with broader sustainability objectives."  

Incorporating HQM into the City Corporation's urban developments has elevated sustainability and health standards. As Michael Gwyther-Jones, highlights, "The inclusion of HQM introduces clear and measurable objectives throughout the design, construction, and post-occupancy phases." This approach ensures comprehensive attention to sustainability and health, enhancing the quality and performance of urban housing, and aligning with the City's sustainability aspirations. 

External factors, including two judicial reviews, introduced a significant delay of over two years in the project timeline. This unexpected postponement presented challenges in sustaining consistency with the HQM consultant over the extended period. Despite these challenges, the clear benchmarks set by HQM played a crucial role in keeping the project objectives aligned and on track during this time.  

The City Corporation’s decision to implement the HQM was a strategic move to incorporate into their Housing Design Guide, and projects such as the Sydenham Hill Estate and York Way Estate developments. A key factor in HQM's selection was its emphasis on health and wellbeing.  

HQM was preferred for its effective audit method, offering practical deliverability over alternatives like Passivhaus. 

The City Corporation's use of HQM in the Sydenham Hill Estate and York Way Estate projects effectively aligns with its commitment to sustainable housing and community-focused development. Michael Gwyther-Jones notes, "HQM aligns perfectly with our corporate objectives, reinforcing our dedication to both sustainability and community development."  

HQM aligns with the City's commitment to sustainable community development, offering an independent audit trail and influencing long-term management and maintenance strategies.  

Crucially, HQM takes a long view of sustainability. As Michael Gwyther-Jones explained, "HQM's focus on quality provides a foundational basis for the type of housing the City aims to deliver, shaping long-term management and maintenance strategies to uphold these standards."  

The Home Quality Mark (HQM) offers significant benefits for sustainable housing development, making it an excellent fit for the City Corporation's Sydenham Hill Estate and York Way Estate developments. Key features of HQM that stand out for these projects include:  

• Energy efficiency: HQM assesses and encourages high standards in energy efficiency, which is essential for sustainable housing.  
• Health and wellbeing: the focus on health and wellbeing in HQM aligns with the City's objectives, ensuring that housing positively impacts occupant health.  
• Biodiversity and environmental impact: HQM encourages biodiversity net gain and minimal environmental impact, which are vital for sustainable urban development.  
• Resilience to climate change: HQM promotes building homes resilient to future climate risks, a key aspect of sustainable development.  
• Quality assurance: with a robust certification process, HQM ensures high standards in construction and offers a reliable indication of quality for residents.  

Reflecting on the City Corporation's use of HQM in the Sydenham Hill Estate and York Way Estate projects, Michael Gwyther-Jones describes the experience as very positive. However, he notes the need for enhanced collaboration, especially between the design development phase of the client and the contractor's delivery stage.   

As early adopters of HQM, the City Corporation's approach serves as a model for sustainable urban development. Their commitment to high standards in social housing projects sets a benchmark for future endeavours.  

For more details on the HQM framework visit Home Quality Mark - BRE Group