Housing Infrastructure Services Company ESG Policy
1. Introduction
The Housing Infrastructure Services Company, (HISCo), provides a ‘design-build-finance’ service for housing estate infrastructure, on fully commercial terms, to developers and landowners. Such services include roads, footpaths, cycle lanes, water, and wastewater facilities, (mains and connections), amenity areas, utilities, public lighting, etc.
In addition to on-site infrastructure, we also provide solutions to associated off-site infrastructure deficits e.g., Wastewater Treatment Plants, Roundabouts, Bridges, Link Roads, etc.
HISCo’s core objective is to increase the number of units, and the mixture of tenures, available to those trying to secure a home in Ireland.
The Housing Infrastructure services Company (Herein ‘HISCo’) is committed to embedding Environmental, Social and Governance principles in its business operations.
We operate within a robust governance structure and ESG factors are embedded in our decision-making process.
The purpose of this policy is to:
· Promote awareness of ESG principles with staff and stakeholders.
· Encourage responsible business considering environmental, social and governance concerns.
· To comply with all legal and regulatory requirements.
HISCo is committed to playing a leading role in delivering housing infrastructure that contributes to a more sustainable built environment. We encourage all our clients and contractors towards responsible waste and resource management.
2. Environmental Factors
HISCo strives to ensure that all projects undertaken are compliant with the latest building and construction regulations thus minimising the impact on the environment. HISCo employs professional consultant teams to manage projects on site.
All housing units constructed by our customers on HISCo supported developments are of the highest energy efficiency with a BER ‘A’ rating.
HISCo encourages environmentally sustainable behaviours among all employees and stakeholders including:
· Reducing vehicle emissions by only travelling to projects when necessary.
· Maximising the use of remote working and video conferencing to cut down on commuting and work travel in private cars.
· Ensuring projects comply with any specific environmental conditions as per the planning grant of permission.
· Responsible waste disposal, water use, and energy efficiency of our office environment is promoted and managed by our office facilities manager Glandore.
· Every Contractor engaged by HISCo is required to submit an Environmental Management Plan
HISCo is committed to play our part in working towards a Net Zero target in terms of carbon emissions.
3. Social Factors
HISCo supports the delivery of housing both private units and social housing throughout Ireland. HISCo engage with Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies and various semi-state / government agencies to support projects.
To assist in the delivery of social and affordable housing, HISCo can offer reduced pricing on its services for residential schemes that have a proportion of social and affordable housing.
HISCo provides strong social guidance and support to employees and stakeholders by prioritising:
· Healthy and Safety polices that cover employees whilst at work or travelling for work.
· Providing PPE for site visits.
· Conducting regular performance and development reviews.
· Engaging with company shareholders to keep them informed of current projects and any potential risks / opportunities in general.
· Organising project specific communications for the benefit of local communities on larger projects.
· Ensuring gender parity and diversification is discussed at board meetings.
· Employee awareness and training on ESG requirements.
4. Governance Factors
HISCo has a strong governance structure around decision making with certain approvals reserved for decision by the Board and others by the Shareholders. The Board of Directors are independent to the company and are nominated by the two company Shareholders and reflect a mix of qualifications and experience.
HISCo promotes strong corporate governance of its business operations by undertaking the following:
· Maintaining a diverse board with members who perform active roles in various sectors of related industry.
· Conducting, at a minimum, bi--monthly board meetings informed by comprehensive board packs including any ESG items for discussion.
· Conflicts of interest are notified and discussed at the earliest opportunity.
· Directors prepare an Annual Compliance Policy Statement in accordance with S.225 of the Companies Act 2014.
· Executive and employee remuneration are discussed and agreed at board level.
· Accounting and tax records are prepared by approved firms and are subject to regularly auditing.
· All decisions on potential projects are discussed at board meetings and the approval of the board members sought before proceeding.
· Staff attend a Weekly Review Meeting
· The Board of Directors have prepared a series of Company Policies which cover areas such as Conflicts of Interest, Employee Handbook, Driving for Work, Audit & Risk, Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures, Business Card Protocol, etc. These policies are reviewed periodically.
5. Aligning to Sustainable Development Goals
In creating our ESG Strategy we have done so with reference to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (“SDGs”). The SDGs that are most significant to HISCo’s business model are identified and discussed below.
SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation
HISCo’s core business objective is to deliver on-site and off-site infrastructure that supports the delivery of residential accommodation. An intrinsic part of many of our infrastructure projects is the construction of Water and Wastewater Systems to ensure safe and hygienic supplies of potable water and the highest standards of treatment of Wastewater.
SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 7 is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. HISCo’s encourages our clients to adopt the most environmentally sustainable and carbon-friendly methods of providing electricity to power the homes on their developments and their public lighting systems. HISCo has a direct role in this area when designing energy supply systems for on-site and off-site infrastructure.
SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
HISCo strives to support sustainable business practices. Both HISCo and our clients appoint suitably qualified professionals to ensure best in class health and safety working environments for staff, contractors, sub-contractors, professionals and visitors to our sites. HISCo and our Stakeholders comply with all regulatory requirements in relation to employment terms and conditions and the fair and equitable treatment of direct and contracted employees.
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Some of the aims of this SDG are as follows:
· Providing adequate shelter for all
· Improving human settlements management
· Promoting sustainable land-use planning and management
· Promoting the integrated provision of environmental infrastructure: water, sanitation, drainage and solid waste management
· Promoting sustainable energy and transport systems in human settlements
· Promoting sustainable construction industry activities
Enabling Sustainable Communities is the underlying core of our Business Model. HISCo supported developments comprise mixed tenure developments providing choice for all aspects of the housing lifecycle. HISCo support developments that are well connected and benefit from major transport links, in addition to open space providing opportunities for recreation and biodiversity enhancement.
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
When designing infrastructure HISCo and our contracting partners ensure we use carefully sourced materials to ensure that the finished product is of a high quality and is built safely, efficiently, cost effectively and with minimal environmental impact.
When engaging a contractor we request their Environmental Management Plan.
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
HISCo developments, in accordance with the Building Regulations, must be nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB) effectively requiring an A BER rating.
6. Implementation of HISCo’s Environmental, Social and Governance Policy
Ultimately responsibility for implementation of our ESG Policy is with the CEO. The ESG Policy was adopted by the Board and is reviewed annually. Internally the CEO and staff discuss the ESG Policy aims and objectives quarterly and any advice and/or training is sourced as required.