Intention is crucial. Clarity makes it deliverable.
For Wates Fit Out’s new Sustainability Lead, Anna Foden, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: sustainability in fit out is about far more than ticking boxes.
Clients are increasingly embedding a wide range of sustainability objectives within their design briefs. While established frameworks such as BREEAM remain important, there is growing demand for a more tailored approach, one that sets meaningful KPIs around the issues that matter most to an organisation, its stakeholders, and the project itself. And that starts with understanding the client.
A sustainability strategy should not only define what outcomes to deliver, but also help clients understand why they matter and where they can create long-term value. The earlier those conversations begin, the greater the opportunity to embed sustainable solutions into the project, and the less likely sustainability ambitions are diluted as a scheme progresses through RIBA Stages 4 and 5.
Early engagement also enables Wates Fit Out and our clients to harness the expertise and innovation of our supply chain to deliver meaningful sustainability outcomes, rather than simply chasing compliance.
High-quality primary data is central to this. Clarifying the intent behind a client’s original design brief at the outset allows us to build the right data capture processes from day one. When information can come from hundreds of sources, from embodied carbon assessments to SMART building technologies, sustainability ambitions need to be translated into something clear, measurable, and valuable.
Ultimately, that leads to better outcomes for our clients.
The goal is not to add complexity, but to remove it. By engaging early, asking the right questions, and focusing on practical delivery, Wates Fit Out helps ensure sustainability creates genuine value that extends well beyond compliance.
Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss your sustainability goals and how we may be able to support them.
Let’s talk fit out!
Wates Fit Out, a specialist business within Wates Construction, specialises in commercial office fit out projects, with a dedicated office in the City of London.
At Wates Fit Out, every project matters. That’s why we maintain a strong, visible presence at all levels – from senior leadership to site teams – ensuring results that exceed expectations.
Our reputation is built on trust. We work with top-tier clients to deliver complex, design-led projects where quality, agility, consistency, and tenant experience are paramount.
