SPEEDWELL launched the second edition of its Sustainability Report

SPEEDWELL, one of Romania’s most active real estate developers, launches its 2023 Sustainability Report. The official ESG reporting document highlights, both the initiatives and main sustainability strategies developed, as well as the company’s internal resources and its impact at all stages of development, from concept to project delivery.

The company reiterates its commitment to the environment and the community, helping to improve the quality of urban life by implementing a robust strategy focused on nine key pillars – resident health, local communities, greenhouse gas emissions, resource and land use efficiency, occupational health and safety, climate change, biodiversity, anti-corruption, and accessibility – that ensure the successful delivery of projects and their impact on the community and the environment.

“Our vision is based on building vibrant, connected neighborhoods focused at the heart of every project’s design and development, where wellbeing is at the center. We prioritize our improvement efforts on our clients’, communities’, and employees’ well-being, achieving the highest European building standards (BREEAM and WELL) and securing access to green spaces and terraces of above-market standard sizes. Through these initiatives, Speedwell not only contributes to the sustainable development of cities but also inspires other companies to adopt similar practices, thus creating a long-term positive impact on the environment and society.”, said Jan Demeyere, Architect and Co-Founder of SPEEDWELL

Through the integration and implementation of new actions in the sustainability plan, in 2023 the company has made major progress and achieved several remarkable results:

100% of buildings completed last year received a Class A energy performance certificate
The waste resulting from the demolition work for THE IVY construction was fully reused
100% of projects delivered benefited from a stakeholder consultation plan (SCP)
66% of them were delivered based on an Economic and Demographic Needs Study (EDNS)
66% of deliverables in 2023 were assessed against the TOD standard and scored above 50 points out of 100
50% of projects have already been evaluated for climate change risks

With 33% of projects already evaluated in terms of residents’ health and well-being, one of SPEEDWELL’s primary goals is to develop communities that provide residents with all the amenities of modern living. As part of the sustainable approach, projects are designed according to the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) concept. Thus, density and transportation aspects are optimized in key areas of cities to keep the community compact.

By 2050, the company aims to achieve zero emissions as part of its commitment to sustainability and high standards of living. The strategy aims to reduce its environmental footprint and promote social responsibility, aiming to achieve BREEAM Outstanding certificates for future projects, a special mention going to CityZen which will be the first BREEAM Communities certified complex in Romania.

SPEEDWELL’s long-term ambition is focused on sustainability and obtaining green certifications for its developments to ensure the best possible performance and resilience in the face of climate change. It will continue to deliver high-quality projects with a focus on sustainability, such as PALTIM, CityZen, TINO, and 1 IUNIE, four future developments that will be based on the urban regeneration concept, as well as THE MEADOWS and GLENWOOD ESTATE, which will be oriented towards integrating large green spaces into a livable space for the residents and the local community, and QUEENS being the flagship development towards the principles of the 15-minute city.

“All projects completed last year have achieved Class A energy performance certification, which underlines our commitment to the environment and our dedication to the development of energy-efficient buildings. For example, THE IVY residential development benefited from a flood risk assessment, which took into account the effect of projected climate change. In terms of energy efficiency, also for THE IVY, we calculated a consumption of 118.66 kWh/m²/year, considerably lower than that of a typical home. Carbon emissions have been estimated at 57,983.03 kg CO2/year, demonstrating the building’s exceptional performance in reducing its carbon footprint and promoting a sustainable lifestyle.”, said Didier Balcaen, CEO and Partner of SPEEDWELL

With consolidated revenues of EUR 107 million, SPEEDWELL’s portfolio in 2023 amounted to 140,000 m2 of office and retail space, 6,000 residential units, and 20,000 m2 of industrial space. Last year, the company delivered the second building of THE IVY residential project, finished the second building of TRIAMA Residence, completed the second phase of SPACEPLUS Chitila warehouse, and acquired a total of over 63,000 square meters of land for its upcoming developments: QUEENS District in Bucharest, 1 IUNIE in Timisoara, and TINO in Brasov.