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Keepmoat Homes Annual Report 2021

Annual Report and financial statements for the year ended 31 October 2021.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S STRATEGIC REPORT Collaborative design and digital management systems Our house type designs are being developed within a 3D Collaborative environment with improved digital functionality to support our ability to work with third party suppliers, including integration with timber frame and off-site manufactured components. All house type models include standard design options to enable site-specific designs from standardised components. This allows us the flexibility to respond to the needs of local design guides in the development of sympathetic elevational styles and street scenes and the development of internal specifications to complement our sales and marketing strategies. Automatically generated material schedules will facilitate the calculation of embodied carbon within our homes, support the achievement of waste reduction targets and facilitate design stage thermal modelling analysis in support of our journey to Zero Carbon. Modern methods of construction A key consideration in the development of our house type range is ensuring that homes can be built traditionally or in timber frame, in recognition of the benefits of both methods. Focus is also being given to the value of premanufactured components within the home to reduce waste, and to support improved quality, productivity, and programme certainty. Affordable low carbon healthy homes A key element of our Corporate Sustainability Strategy is our commitment to building affordable low carbon healthy homes by embedding low carbon strategies into all key stages of development including design, procurement, build and the customer journey. We are developing our product to support our approach to delivering homes that meet the Future Homes standard. In addition, creating flexible, adaptable spaces will balance improved fabric performance and prevent overheating with reduced energy waste and the integration of renewable energy solutions supported with smart energy controls. Key to any low carbon solution will be the reduction in home running costs, essential in addressing fuel poverty. We are focused on reducing the carbon footprint of the homes we build, including working with our supply chain, academic institutions, and sustainability consultants we continue to collate build performance and customer feedback to help us develop our Whole House Carbon Strategy to reduce the carbon footprint of the materials we use, as well as reducing water usage and waste. A recent trial of smart home energy systems in Manchester, through a partnership with home automation system, Wondrwall and Manchester City Council, delivered 1.8 tonnes of CO2 reduction annually per home, as well as providing energy bill savings of up to £559 per year, per home. The trial of five affordable, low-carbon homes with low energy costs was a real success, with all homes benefitting from a reduction in energy demand and carbon emissions whilst making savings on energy bills. The Wondrwall system enables these savings by monitoring demand in the home, maximising the self-consumption of free and clean solar energy, exporting electricity at peak times when the need of the grid is high, and importing low-cost electricity at off-peak times when the grid has surplus energy. Throughout 2021 our Group Technical and Low Carbon Delivery Team continued to research, design and trial products and technologies with low operational embedded carbon to allow us to deliver healthy, comfortable, affordable, low carbon homes with scalable, robust solutions that focus on customer satisfaction and affordable running costs to help address fuel poverty. 32 KEEPMOAT.COM

STRATEGIC REPORT Sustainable communities Fundamental to our design principals is creating a sense of community through the delivery of new homes of mixed tenures in attractive environments that complement existing local areas and promote health and wellbeing. We also strive to address the future impacts of climate change such as extreme weather events, overheating, water scarcity and higher utility costs for our customers. Throughout the year the Keepmoat Design Guide has been developed to reinforce our business focus on creating sustainable communities, aligned to the principles of both the National Design Guide and Building for Life 12, to ensure we maximise opportunities to enhance the sustainability and attractiveness of our developments. Construction excellence We actively contribute to the NHBC Standards Review Group and other industry working groups to help ensure our design, detailing and specification represent best practice and are aligned to future change. As a registered signatory to the Building a Safer Future Charter we are committed to raising standards in building safety, including early adoption of the principles of the Fire Safety Bill. Quality is a top priority for the business and all supporting design detailing, workmanship and material specifications have been developed to embody good practice and simplification; written in plain English and supported with illustrations and photographs. These documents, created in collaboration with all departments, including subcontractor forums, are used at all stages of design, procurement and subcontractor appointment. They have informed the Keepmoat quality training programmes and site inductions and are also used as build quality checks. ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021 33