Our impact
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Creating communities
that thrive for generations
At Wates Residential, we believe that delivering homes is just the beginning – our true legacy lies in the places we help create and in the planet we leave behind.
Sustainability and social value are embedded in every decision we make, from the way we design and build to the way we engage communities and measure our outcomes. We work closely with our partners, consultants and supply chain to ensure our developments deliver lasting environmental, social and economic benefit – long after we have left.
Together, we create opportunity, resilience and pride – building a legacy that grows for generations.
Custodians of our planet
At Wates Residential’s ambition is to leave a positive legacy for future generations by creating homes and communities that are resilient, resource efficient and fit for the future.
We work with our partners to shape a sustainability approach that responds to local priorities and project ambition, while remaining practical, credible and achievable.
2045
reduction in scope 1 emissions in 2025
21%
Reduction in Scope 1 emissions in 2025
99.1%
Construction waste diverted from landfill in 2025
We are working towards science based targets to become a net zero carbon and zero waste organisation by 2045, and we report our progress transparently.
We are proud signatories of the Town and Country Planning Association’s Healthy Homes principles and align our sustainability work with the Wates Group’s wider environmental strategy.
How we design and build sustainably
We embed sustainability from the earliest stages of every scheme – not as a compliance exercise, but as a design principle.
- Designing for the long term — we prioritise low carbon materials, energy efficient systems and designs that respond to how communities will live, move and change over time.
- Collaborating across the supply chain — we work closely with our consultants, sub contractors and supply chain partners to embed sustainability into every stage of delivery, with clear commitments built into contracts.
- Reducing waste — we apply circular economy principles across our sites, finding ways to employ modern methods of construction where possible and reuse, redistribute and reduce materials.
Social value that shapes places
Social value is how we engage communities and strengthen the places we help create.
For us, it is not an add on. It is embedded from the start and shaped with the people who live there. We use social value to build trust, unlock opportunity and support long term place making.
£43.7m
social value generated in 2025
100%
of contracts include social value
National TOMs
framework used for consistent, transparent measurement
Our approach is rooted in genuine community engagement – listening first, then developing targeted initiatives that reflect the specific needs of each place.
We believe communities should be partners in change, shaping their neighbourhoods rather than having them shaped for them.
How we measure social value
We measure social value consistently and transparently using the National TOMs (Themes, Outcomes and Measures) framework across all our projects, assessing impact across three areas:
- Fiscal value — savings and efficiencies delivered for the public sector
- Economic value — local growth, skills development and investment in communities
- Social value — improvements in wellbeing, safety and access to opportunity
This clarity of measurement helps us and our partners focus on the outcomes that matter most, ensuring commitments are measurable and outcomes are real.
Where we focus
Our social value activity is shaped by local priorities on every project, but consistently focuses on four areas where we can make the most meaningful difference:
- Employment and skills — creating local jobs, apprenticeships and training pathways, with particular focus on widening access to the construction industry for women, young people and those furthest from the labour market.
- Education and mentoring — working with schools, colleges and universities to open pathways into the built environment, including site tours, career mentoring and work placements.
- Community investment — direct funding and support for local organisations through initiatives like our Community Chest programme, targeting areas facing pressures around wellbeing, poverty, education, sport and the arts.
- Inclusion and belonging — creating spaces and moments where communities feel seen, heard and celebrated – from events that bring people together to programmes that support mental health and social connection.
Our social value approach aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, grounding global ambitions in local action.