Protecting our planet

DSP’s commitment to building thriving communities extends beyond the neighbourhoods we nurture.

We take active responsibility for our wider environment through a range of considered measures.

A key measure of success is the implementation of practices that can be performed in perpetuity with no detrimental social or environmental impact.

Reducing emissions

DSP has set emissions-based targets and continues to seek opportunities to reduce emissions across our portfolio.

Our targets and results

In 2025, we re-audited the DSP portfolio.

Thanks in large part to the installation of metering and monitoring equipment within our buildings, results demonstrated a 46% reduction in emissions, exceeding the target by 50% and putting us on course to meet our targets for 2035 and 2040.

Working with 4D Monitoring and our facilities management team, we have 24/7 live data on our buildings’ performance and have identified the optimal baseline operation for the plant equipment, drastically reducing operation hours and carrying out targeted maintenance.

With enhancements and additions to the monitoring of existing, renovated and new spaces in the portfolio, recognising the scale of the challenge we aim to maintain or improve these reductions in future years.

Advancing best practice

In 2023, we implemented a set of Greenbuild Guidelines which inform best practice during design and delivery of all projects; we have followed these guidelines ever since.

Developed internally, our Greenbuild Guidelines for construction projects set environmental-performance objectives across all RIBA Work Stages. They are reviewed bi-annually to ensure they reflect updates to industry-leading standards, including LETI, NABERS, GLA, WELL, BREEAM, UKGBC and FSC.

We use the guidelines in all major, minor and fit-out projects, working collaboratively with the design, delivery, building management and, where applicable, customer teams to encourage best-practice environmental standards and materials.

Our projects score on average
78.5%

Our recent construction projects are scored on a ‘Match’, ‘Fix’ and ‘Win’ basis, with ‘Win’ indicating that industry standards have been exceeded, equating to a rating of ‘Excellent’.

In 2025, we developed the guidelines further, introducing an internal scoring system of KPIs to track achievements and measure performance against the targets set.

Our focus on locally sourced and environmentally innovative products and materials is a key factor. A materials audit identified opportunities to reduce emissions on a current office fit-out project; All proposed materials will be sourced from within Europe.

Our integrated design process

Eliminating waste

The principles of the circular economy – a zero-waste system in which every output is fed back into the cycle – shape DSP’s ambitions for both our business and the built environment as a sector. We implement several waste-management protocols across our operations.

Circular Economy Principles

We challenge ourselves and our project teams to reach the highest possible targets for recycling, set by Westminster City Council and the Sustainable City Charter. We have achieved up to 92% recycled waste on our construction projects, with all waste diverted from landfill.

Contributing to circularity

101 Wigmore Street bathrooms refurbishment – W.Cs donated to CollectEco.

DSP is proud to have partnered with CollectEco, a national organisation that manages the distribution of surplus furniture and office equipment to charitable causes across the UK.

103 Wigmore St - retained raised access floor to receive new terrazzo made from recycled materials.

By focusing on local supply chains, material reuse and recycling, and our own Greenbuild Guidelines, we are making strides towards embedding circular-economy principles into our operations.

Our partnership has resulted in:

£125,000

of furniture, equipment and materials donated;

95,576kg

of CO2e emissions prevented;

31,520kg

of waste diverted from landfill.

Recognition

To ensure DSP meets and exceeds industry standards in sustainable practice, we maintain relationships and strategic associations with bodies and initiatives that share our commitment to mitigating negative environmental impacts.

We were early adopters of Westminster City Council’s Sustainable City Charter, which aims to build a broad network of forward-thinking organisations aiming towards a net-zero city by 2040.

An exemplar in sustainable design and delivery, the Parcels Building was invited to participate in both the London Property Alliance’s Retrofit First, Not Retrofit Only report in 2024 and the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard pilot scheme in 2025.

Since 2023, DSP has been member of the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), which aims to radically improving the sustainability of the built environment by transforming the way it is planned, designed, constructed, operated and repurposed.

Embodying best practice

Our retrofit of The Parcels Building has been recognised with a number of accolades.

Refurb Project, AJ Architecture Award (2023)

Recognised for retention of the building’s structural frame minimised the need for new materials while creating a distinct sustainable benefit.

UK Sustainability Project of the Year, Society of Façade and Engineering Awards (2023)

The new façades contributed to the reduction in energy consumption and enabled emissions savings and enhanced thermal efficiency.

RIBA London Region Award (2024)

It was acknowledged that the project is “a feat of sustainable adaptable reuse that has breathed new life into an outdated retail and office block”.

RIBA Reinvention Award, shortlisted (2024)

The judges made reference to the refurbishment’s enhancement of both energy performance and occupants’ comfort.