How the National Infrastructure Strategy is set to make sustainable construction the new normal

With the publication of the Government’s 10-Year National Infrastructure Strategy and a £725 billion investment pipeline, we’re entering a new era where sustainable construction becomes the norm, not the exception.

Backed by strengthened building performance requirements and a focus on long-term value, the Strategy signals a decisive shift. Sustainable construction is now central to the UK’s net zero and economic growth ambitions, such as the £39 billion allocated to affordable housing that meets new standards of energy efficiency.

This transition is supported by the Procurement Act 2023, which moves the sector from MEAT (Most Economically Advantageous Tender) to MAT (Most Advantageous Tender). This evolution empowers public sector customers to define “value” not only in financial terms, but in environmental, operational, and social impact. Procurement decisions will now reflect whole-life value - not just lowest cost but long-term, holistic benefits.

Equally important is the Strategy’s ambition for stronger public-private partnerships. By offering delivery frameworks, standardised contracts, and policy certainty, the Strategy aims to reduce risk and cost for developers, boosting growth in challenging economic conditions.

For our customers, this opens up a unique opportunity to align regeneration goals with environmental ambitions and economic levers. From hospitals and civic centres to schools and leisure facilities, sustainability is no longer a premium feature - it’s the baseline for delivering high performing, resilient infrastructure that enhances public services over the long-term.

This approach reflects what many of our customers have recognised for years - that high-quality buildings support high-quality service delivery. Take Tarleton Academy, the UK's first net zero carbon in operation academy, completed in 2023. Through advanced insulation, airtight construction, and integrated renewable generation, the project hasn't just minimised environmental impact, it’s created a comfortable learning environment where operational savings can enable optimal educational delivery.

While political debate around net zero intensifies, the Government’s direction is clear: improved building performance is central to energy efficiency and decarbonisation. Heating buildings accounts for 22% of UK emissions, and performance standards such as the Future Homes Standard and Net Zero Carbon Building Standard (NZCBS) are targeting significant reductions through design and operational benchmarks. These evolving standards give public sector customers a clear framework to futureproof buildings and lead the transition to net zero.

Meeting these standards demands precise delivery and ongoing performance monitoring. Our proprietary Energy Synergy® monitoring process was developed to support this challenge, and many of our customers are now using performance monitoring to reduce running costs, improve outcomes, and fine-tune building efficiency in real time.

The Horncastle Public Sector Hub, delivered for East Lindsey District Council, delivered measurable savings through small optimisations, cutting energy use and emissions while improving user comfort.

While smart optimisation can deliver impressive results in conventional buildings, it’s the top tier of building performance - the Passivhaus standard – that demonstrates what's possible when long-term operating costs are considered against initial capital investment. Eclipse Leisure Centre, delivered for Spelthorne Borough Council, stands as the world's largest Passivhaus wet/dry leisure centre, delivering energy savings exceeding 60% compared to traditional builds through exceptional airtightness, high-performance insulation, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. This has freed up budgets for essential frontline services.

Beyond civic buildings, we’re also transforming transport infrastructure to match the Strategy’s vision of a low-carbon, connected future. Projects like Halifax’s net zero bus station, North Shields Interchange, and Stockport Interchange showcase how sustainable design can decarbonise transport, enhance mobility, and regenerate communities.

While Net Zero Week rightly focuses our attention on carbon reduction, the National Infrastructure Strategy reminds us that sustainability is fundamentally about creating places that work. High-quality, sustainable infrastructure drives local economic resilience, supports skills development, and keeps investment within communities. This approach enables customers to deliver long-lasting social and economic benefits through every project.

Public sector leaders now have a unique opportunity to shape the next decade -delivering smarter, lower-carbon infrastructure that improves public services today and protects communities tomorrow.