Thought Leadership - Balancing Luxury Property and Sustainability
The future’s green: balancing luxury property and sustainability
How the luxury property industry is embracing the challenges and relishing the innovations of a taking a more sustainable approach
In order to achieve a more sustainable approach to luxury property, the sector is having to make some significant shifts in order to even begin to make an impact. The built environment is responsible for 40% of global emissions and in super-prime property, the stakes are potentially even higher, as historically, the expectations of UHNWIs haven’t always gone hand-in-hand with eco-friendly choices.
The good news is that attitudes across the board are shifting, with almost two-thirds of UHNWIs attempting to reduce their carbon footprint, according to the attitudes survey in the Knight Frank Wealth Report 2024. Though there is, of course, an expectation when it comes to luxury property that sustainable alternatives must meet or even exceed conventional standards.
All areas of the luxury property sector are becoming expert at balancing design excellence with eco-consciousness. Creative reuse of materials, the integration of renewable energy sources and the adoption of efficient, eco-friendly technologies are redefining luxury. What’s also heartening to see, is that companies are not working in isolation, but looking for ways to collaborate and share knowledge to both hold each other to account and together strive to do better.
To discuss this fascinating topic, we reached out to a broad spectrum of our members, drawn from the fields of architecture, interior design, real estate, property surveying, technology, branding, project management, manufacturing and law. So, please join The Luxury Property Forum and our experts as we take an in-depth look at the challenges, benefits and future of sustainability in the luxury property sector.
THANK YOU TO OUR 20 EXPERTS FOR THEIR VALUABLE INSIGHTS:
Will Bouma, Co Founder of PRIME and Sustainability Ambassador for The LPF
Sophia Athanasopoulou, Investment & Portfolio Director, Orilina Properties
Jennifer Beningfield, Founder, OpenStudio Architects
Mandi Cleyndert, Director, Bill Cleyndert & Company
Camilla Dell, Managing Partner, Black Brick Property Solutions
Charu Gandhi, Founder & Director, Elicyon
Magdalena Gruszczynska, Founder & Creative Director, Supremati
Anna Jassani, Senior Associate, Residential Property, Forsters LLP
Robbie Kerr, Director, ADAM Architecture
Sharon Lillywhite, Founder & Creative Director, Oliver Burns Studio
Helen Lord, Founder, UKE Home Solutions t/a Rehome
Andrew Paulson, Partner, LA London
Claire Reynolds, Managing Partner, UK Sotheby’s International Realty
Lynsay Robinson, Associate Partner, Appleyard & Trew
Diba Salam, Principal & Founder, Studio DS
Mauro Serrano Jorda, Project Manager, Walton Wagner
Richard Stevens, Group CEO, Sectorlight
Alec Watt, Founder & CEO, Accouter Group of Companies (AGC)
Alex Willcocks, Co-founder, Burbeck Interiors
Kevin Wilton, Managing Director, SMC Smart Homes
In this report, we asked our experts five key questions:
1. What does sustainability mean in the context of the luxury property sector?
2. What are the major challenges when it comes to sustainability?
3. How have you incorporated sustainable practices into your business?
4. How does sustainability benefit business?
5. What is the future of sustainability in the luxury property sector?
A message from Priya Rawal, Founder & CEO of The Luxury Property Forum
At The Luxury Property Forum, we are so named because we’re more than just a network; we’re a forum for the future. And nowhere could this be more important than in coming together to promote, build on, and move forward the cause of sustainability in our industry.
We believe that best practice should be standard across the sector and want to help our members achieve this both in the UK and internationally. And this is just one reason why we’re proud to be members of and partners with PRIME, which is helping us all in luxury construction address our corporate social responsibilities in a practical and realistic way.
At The LPF, we also encourage our members to embrace a mindset of collaboration, innovation, and education. By sharing case studies, engaging in workshops, and adopting cutting-edge technologies, our members are positioned to lead the industry in creating sustainable, high-quality developments.
As an industry, we are all aware that while it has taken some time, sustainability has found its way onto the agenda of HNWIs and UHNWIs. This makes our role in the luxury property sector that little bit easier. Because there are increased challenges and, in some cases, increased costs to pass on when it comes to creating more sustainable structures. However, our combined knowledge, expertise, and passion for property has already seen enormous strides taken and will, I know, continue to scale new heights of what’s possible going forward.
It’s also essential to recognise the practical challenges businesses face in implementing sustainable practices, from managing costs to navigating regulatory requirements. However, overcoming these hurdles not only delivers environmental benefits but also enhances brand reputation and commercial success. With a global spotlight on sustainability—through initiatives like net-zero targets—our industry is uniquely positioned to influence positive change.
This is why I’m so delighted to have brought together this brilliant panel of experts from all corners of our industry. Whether lawyers, project managers, developers, designers, or makers, they’re all united in being open and dedicated to the absolute necessity of creating more sustainable ways of designing and constructing luxury property. In the following report, you will read that the message is loud and clear: a lot has been achieved, but there is so much more that must be done.
In fact, such was the passion of our experts on the topic of sustainability, if we had included all their excellent comments, this report would have been 10 times as long! For me personally, it was wonderful to witness that there is such interest and innovation out there, and I do thank them all for their support and their time in contributing to this LPF thought leadership piece.
Looking ahead, The Luxury Property Forum is dedicated to shaping a sustainable future for the luxury property sector. Our vision is one where sustainability is fully integrated into every aspect of design, construction, and operation, aligning environmental responsibility with exceptional quality and client satisfaction. Achieving this requires a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement—principles we are proud to champion alongside our members and partners.
I hope you find much to challenge you, to provoke thought, and to buoy you up in the following pages. It is a debate that must continue, but I believe that with such dialogue as this already going on, the future of the luxury property industry is both bright and highly sustainable.
The Luxury Property Forum
The Luxury Property Forum is the official forum for the luxury property industry, bringing together highly experienced and devoted members handpicked from every discipline. We facilitate the advancement and continuous growth of the luxury property industry, through developing strong business collaborations and cultivating growth opportunities as well as sharing knowledge, experience and contacts. We are more than just a network, but are a forum for the future.
If you would like to speak to any of the interviewees above or to find out more about The Luxury Property Forum please contact:
Priya Rawal, Founder and CEO, at priya@theluxurypropertyforum.com or +44 (0)7719 970747
PRIME
PRIME brings together responsible businesses that share a commitment to making continuous improvements to meet the needs of the present, by generating valuable, positive and sustainable impacts on the environment and on the communities they serve.
To find out more about PRIME please contact:
Will Bouma, Co-Founder, at will@weareprime.org or +44 (0)7889 605 848