Suttle Projects is experienced in working within SSSIs and environmentally sensitive locations. An environmental inventory is a vital part of the preparation for each project. This ensures we’ve identified sensitive habitats that we need to protect as well as opportunities to increase biodiversity through restorative planting.
We aim to continuously shrink our environmental footprint by using electric vehicles and renewable energy wherever possible and we’re working actively towards net zero project delivery.
Infrastructure projects inevitably create some degree of disruption to people’s lives. We always aim to minimise this through open and effective communication. We make it a priority to give back social value by enhancing the communities where we work and always aim to leave a positive legacy.
We recognise we have an important role to play in a sustainable future for everyone. We have a track record of carbon reduction having already committed to halving our carbon emissions by 2030. Our policies drive sustainable improvements, and we measure greenhouse gas emissions; we have determined our baseline, and we monitor our ambitious annual reduction targets.
In this feature we explore what we have achieved so far and share some of the actions we are taking at both company and individual project levels in our pursuit of a more sustainable future for our industry and wellbeing of the communities in which we work.
We have invested in solar panel technology to charge electric vehicles and power the workshop and office. This has reduced our carbon emissions by 13.7tCO2e. In just two years, we have increased our electric/hybrid vehicles from 17% to 27% of our fleet, with 100% of our cars electric/hybrid.
We conduct environmental value exercises on our projects to identify environmental impacts and potential savings. We regularly seek eco-alternatives for materials including steel sheet piles, concrete and timber and assess impacts carefully.
In our view it is never too early for young people to start thinking about their careers and what excites them and to support this we are part of the “Start Small, Dream Big” Initiative. This encourages children from disadvantaged backgrounds to gain an understanding of all the career options available to them. Our Graduate Engineers present Year 3 and 4 classes at primary schools raising early awareness of STEM careers.
Our winter clothes campaign in collaboration with a local homeless charity helps the organisation, resource and logistics of winter clothes distribution and donates to the YMCA’s “Big Sleep Easy”. In addition, acmillan Cancer Support. We are incredibly proud of three members of our team who recently took part in Melodie’s Walk; a 14-mile charity walk through the New Forest raising money for Macmillan Local and supported the event through a charity donation and by contributing an auction prize.
On our Netting Maintenance contract on the NR CP7 Minor Works Framework. Our Site Manager took the initiative to contact local sites including Meopham Allotments and Hemsley Conservation Centre to offer tree chippings from the de-vegetation works on site, for use in animal housing and pedestrian pathways. This diverted waste from landfill, reused waste materials, reduced disposal costs, and contributed to our social value added to the local community.
A substantial amount of focused hard work and effort takes place at project level to support our overarching company commitments. Our operatives receive environmental training to ensure our policies are clearly understood and consistently applied throughout project delivery.
Pre-project carbon assessment identifies measures to further minimise carbon emissions, including recruiting local operatives, reducing travel through car-sharing and local lodging, using low-energy welfare units, and HVO fuel in plant and machinery where practicable.
Comprehensive pollution prevention strategies are used to eradicate chemical spills, including hydraulic fluid from construction vehicles. Our approach follows the source–pathway–receptor principle, focusing on preventing spills at source, controlling pathways, and protecting sensitive marine environments, water quality, and aquatic ecology.
Our project programmes are planned with consideration of the seasonal sensitivities for wildlife. Where practicable, activities that could cause elevated noise levels, vibration, or visual disturbance are scheduled outside of critical nesting, overwintering periods and animal and reptile breeding migrations. Where this is not feasible, mitigation measures such as advance supervised relocations, buffer zones, reduced working hours, and temporary visual screening are implemented to avoid and minimise disturbance.
An ecological partner is frequently appointed to advise us on ecological constraints, undertake pre-construction surveys, and monitor compliance with agreed mitigation measures. The site operative environmental awareness briefings include information on protected species and the importance of avoiding unnecessary disturbance. This approach ensures that ecological considerations directly inform our construction activities and ongoing project management and decision making.
All environmental performance data, including water consumption, diesel usage, electricity demand, waste volumes, and recycling rates, are recorded and managed using a dedicated monitoring spreadsheet. This approach ensures full transparency and enables effective tracking against agreed key performance indicators (KPIs) throughout the duration of the project.
For more information about how Suttle Projects can simplify your project and contribute to your organisation’s and project’s social value, carbon reduction and sustainability objectives please click on the following link: Suttle Projects Solutions