Build-to-rent (BTR) investor, developer and operator Moda Group has achieved Fitwel Champion status.
Four of Moda’s UK neighbourhoods already have the highest three-star Fitwel rating and the Champion status will see the company use the healthy buildings and communities certification across its growing portfolio.
Tarry Depledge, ESG manager at Moda Group, told BE News: “In the world of ESG, it’s incredibly important to remain publicly accountable and transparent and at Moda we do that by aligning ourselves with organisations such as Fitwel and BREEAM. The reason that we decided to go with Fitwel is the certification covers a really good range of everything, from your building design all the way through to your community and the way you treat residents.
“So it’s a holistic way of looking at wellbeing as well as the environmental part of it. We also found that because Fitwel is an international standard, and a lot of our residents are from all around the world, it’s a good way of proving that we are actually doing really well internationally.”
Joanna Frank, president and CEO of the Center for Active Design, the sole operator of Fitwel, added: “We’re thrilled that Moda has committed to becoming a Fitwel Champion. It is commendable to see Moda commit to Fitwel as part of their ‘Next Generation Futures’ ESG strategy to create positive change by focusing on developing healthier spaces and communities.
“In today’s real estate landscape, prioritising the health of our planet and people is no longer a trend; it’s a business imperative, representing both risk and opportunity. By embracing an evidence-based health-focused approach, Moda is not only responding to stakeholder demand but also leading the way in shaping a healthier future in the UK. We applaud their trailblazing efforts and welcome them as Champions in the healthy building movement.”
Moda unveiled its Champion status in its new ESG report, which is part of its Next Generation Futures strategy. Last year, the company achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating across all of its PBSA and co-living projects, secured EPC ratings of B or above on all projects, employed 75 apprenticeships across its construction sites and incorporated a new set of ESG design standards into the business. The company said it was on track to reach operational carbon industry 2030 targets ahead of time.
Depledge said one of the key areas where Moda was placing a lot more focus as part of its Next Generation Futures strategy was social impact.
“We’re in the process of putting together a social impact strategy across the business,” explained Depledge. “One of the reasons for this is to align everything we do because at the moment we work with some great contractors, but our social value is determined by them and how they run their business and at Moda we want to have a lot more control over that because it is incredibly important for us. We take responsibility for our communities and we want to be able to report fully on what we’re adding back to those communities.”
