Hammersmith and Fulham Council is implementing building standards that surpass current regulatory requirements as part of its commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030.
The council's Climate and Ecology Strategy mandates that all new developments not only meet but exceed statutory building regulations, notably through Passivhaus design principles to minimise energy demand and operational emissions. This approach is detailed in the council's Public reports pack, available here.
Several of the council's direct development schemes, including Hartopp & Lannoy, Farm Lane, and Lillie Road, are being constructed to Passivhaus standards. These developments incorporate features such as communal and individual air source heat pumps, solar photovoltaic panels, and sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS). The Hartopp & Lannoy scheme, for instance, is designed to achieve an 86% CO2 emission reduction compared to Building Regulations Part L, with enhanced building fabric specifications and triple-glazed windows. This scheme also has a potential biodiversity net gain of 0.93 units.
Similarly, the Farm Lane development is projected to achieve an 84% CO2 emission reduction, while Lillie Road is set for a 71% reduction. The Lillie Road development is also expected to see a biodiversity net gain improvement of 1.17 units. The Avonmore Primary School redevelopment is also targeting a BREEAM 'Excellent' rating and aims for significant CO2 emission reductions.
These initiatives are part of a broader strategy that includes enhancing local biodiversity and ecological resilience in tandem with climate mitigation. Specific developments are noted for features such as green roofs (sedum & wildflower mix) to assist SUDS and promote biodiversity, and new trees, hedges / general planting across the development to provide additional habitats for wildlife. This is further outlined in the Climate and Ecology PAC report on the development pipeline, accessible here.
The council's development programme aims to deliver approximately 1,800 homes and additional community assets within the next five years. This programme is self-financing and focused on building and co-producing new, sustainable, affordable housing and modern social infrastructure tailored to the needs of local communities. The council is committed to fostering diverse, mixed communities and therefore will supply new homes of all different tenures with a strong geographic spread across the borough. This approach enables the council to deliver quickly, spread risk, and provide a true range of affordable housing tenures, including Council Shared Equity, a low-cost homeownership tenure.
Further details on the council's financial strategy and budget can be found in the 2026-27 Revenue Budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy document and the accompanying Budget Presentation.
The Final PAC minutes from the Climate Change and Ecology Policy and Accountability Committee meeting are available here.
