A Project with Purpose: Carbon Savings and Community Impact at 76 Southbank

About 76 Southbank

Thoughtfully remodelled and refurbished, 76 Southbank is a brutalist landmark reimagined for the future. The adaptive reuse development extends Sir Denys Lasdun's final major work, originally completed in 1983 as IBM's South Bank headquarters and awarded Grade II listed status in 2020.

Designed by AHMM, the project has transformed the building into a future-ready, low-carbon workplace, with extensive terraces overlooking the River Thames.

Innovative solutions were employed throughout the build, including retaining 80% of the existing structure, reusing 95% of the foundations and incorporating reused steel sections - distinct from recycling - to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the redevelopment.

Today, 76 Southbank provides flexible office space designed to support productivity, foster collaboration and enrich its setting on London's South Bank. 

Defining ESG

Our approach to environmental, social and governance (ESG) is central to our identity and is a framework for how we do business. It guides decision-making across our operations and projects, with a focus on embodied carbon, waste reduction, ethical labour practices, local employment, skills development and community engagement.

Our ESG strategy is built around the below five pillars:

·         Environment focuses on the carbon and circular resourcing, ensuring low carbon sites and sustainable ecosystems

·         People, focusing on Health, Safety and Wellbeing, Diversity and Inclusion and Equitable Employment, creating environments where people feel supported, valued and able to perform at their best, removing barriers and improving diversity across the industry.

·         Communities pillar focuses on building long-term partnerships that create lasting benefits and support thriving, connected communities.

·         Partnerships focuses on ensuring social value investment is directed towards initiatives that deliver meaningful outcomes and create lasting benefits for local communities.

·         Governance & Operational Excellence prioritises sustainable livelihoods throughout our supply chain, promotes fair employment opportunities and supports the ethical treatment of all workers. 

ESG at 76 Southbank

76 Southbank reflects our commitment to delivering projects that create lasting value for people, communities and the environment, while maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety.

The built environment accounts for 25% of the UK’s carbon footprint and has a critical role to play in the transition to Net Zero. This report outlines how 76 Southbank achieved its environmental ambitions through a circular economy approach and the use of low-carbon materials, resulting in a saving of more than 1000 tonnes of carbon.

The project was delivered with a strong focus on ethical and responsible practices, ensuring fair working conditions, robust labour standards, and a transparent, supportive environment for all workers. Its positive impact extended to the local economy, with significant investment into Lambeth-based SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises), strengthening local supply chains and supporting the local community. The project also created opportunities for local residents through employment, apprenticeships, educational outreach and early careers programmes, helping to build a more diverse, skilled and resilient workforce for the future.

To maximise social impact, we carried out a local needs assessment to understand where our efforts could make the greatest difference. This informed a tailored social value strategy developed specifically for 76 Southbank and the Lambeth community.

‘’The development of 76 Southbank sets a benchmark for transforming existing structures into modern, efficient workplaces while recognising the environmental impact of demolition and full reconstruction… building something great means prioritising opportunities for social value. At 76 Southbank, we’re proud to have achieved both, creating a development that gives people opportunities and will be enjoyed for years to come.’’

 The full ESG End of Project report can be viewed below or by clicking here.