海角视频

At Property Week鈥檚 ESG Edge conference in November, industry leaders shared how the built environment is moving from ambition to action, setting the tone for the year ahead. 

As we step into 2026, it is clear that ESG is no longer just a compliance checkbox. Many businesses are using it as a strategic lever for resilience, innovation and long-term value.  

海角视频鈥檚 UK insights from the global 2025 research show that 81% of UK businesses have embedded ESG strategies into core operations, and 89% report positive financial impact, with nearly half seeing performance gains above 10%. The new year brings fresh ESG priorities, but it is clear that integration is paying off.  

At the Property Week ESG Edge conference 2025, experts across the industry met and explored what is next for ESG in real estate – shifting from targets to delivery and from buzzwords to measurable outcomes. 

海角视频鈥檚 panel session at the event, led by Dr Trevor Keeling, Director at 海角视频, featured voices from across the sector, including: 

• Jessica Pilz, Head of Sustainable Investing 鈥� Private Markets, Fiera Capital 
• Laura Thrower, Senior Responsible Property Investment Manager, Royal London Asset Management聽
• Richard Twinn, Associate Director, 海角视频 
• Ryan Jakes, Development Manager, HB Reavis 

Here is what our panel of experts shared, along with key focus areas as we step into the new year. 

From buzzword to business imperative

ESG became mired in ambiguity and fragmentation. Marketing and labels took over, and the term lost its way.”

Jessica Pilz, Head of Sustainable Investing – Private Markets, Fiera Capital

In recent years, the term 鈥楨SG鈥� has become misunderstood, particularly through global politicisation, which has drawn away from what it actually means to businesses. Despite this, UK and European investors continue to remain resilient with strong appetite for sustainable and impactful investing.  

As 2026 begins, ESG is evolving beyond a label into a framework for lasting impact. Jessica stressed the need for a reset: 鈥淲e need to re-focus on the core purpose of ESG 鈥� a source of value-creation that helps us make better informed investment decisions.鈥� 

Day-to-day ESG implementation across the asset lifecycle

ESG thinking has evolved; it is now integrated into fund investment decision-making.”

Laura Thrower, Senior Responsible Property Investment Manager, Royal London Asset Management

Laura highlighted a trend that will accelerate in 2026 and emphasised how companies like Royal London Asset Management are integrating ESG into the entire property lifecycle. From acquisition, where flood risk and climate resilience shape investment choices, to development and asset management, ESG considerations are now standard practice.  

Developers are held accountable to sustainability standards and in many cases, going beyond compliance makes financial sense. Asset managers are seeing the most transformation, embedding ESG into analytics, business planning and engagement strategies, with growing attention to biodiversity and social value.  

Climate risk: From strategy to delivery

The focus now is on what aspects of ESG drive business value and resilience.”

Richard Twinn, Associate Director, 海角视频

A key theme for 2026 is the shift from ambition to action. Richard noted that businesses are increasingly focused on understanding their potential impacts and risk exposure, driven by mandatory climate disclosures. 

Richard also noted how the focus has moved from aspirational targets to practical measures that protect value and reduce risk. Climate resilience is now in the delivery phase, with mandatory disclosures, asset-level risk assessments and net zero CapEx planning becoming standard. Operational risks – such as flooding or extreme heat – translate into real costs, from insurance premiums to downtime, making feasibility and implementation critical. 

As Richard stated, 鈥淐lients are asking for portfolio-level screening and asset-level risk assessments鈥�. 

Retrofit vs. new build and the strategic pivot

Done well, retrofit can create significant value by cutting cost and carbon while producing income much sooner than new builds.”

Ryan Jakes, HB Reavis

When it comes to offices of the future, Worship Square – a HB Reavis development across which 海角视频 provided multidisciplinary services – stands as a strong example of best鈥慽n鈥慶lass sustainability in practice. Ryan explained that in order to attract premium occupiers, the project features were shaped around four key pillars designed to meet evolving occupier needs, including a strong focus on net zero of both embodied and operational carbon. This approach means that it has been built with up-front embodied carbon of 480kgCO₂/m²e and designed to achieve a 5-star NABERS rating. 

Although Worship Square was delivered as a new鈥慴uild project, Ryan noted that rising capital constraints and construction cost inflation are driving renewed interest in retrofit solutions with financial pressure now reinforcing, rather than competing with, sustainability outcomes. 

Looking ahead to 2026, this shift suggests the retrofit conversation is only set to accelerate, as investors increasingly look to cost鈥慹ffective, fast and carbon鈥慶onscious approaches to improving existing assets. 

Lessons learned: Progress over perfection

Progress matters more then perfection.”

Laura Thrower, Senior Responsible Property Investment Manager, Royal London Asset Management

During the discussion, Laura emphasised how progress matters more than perfection, noting how asset managers are weighing trade-offs between upfront CapEx and long-term sustainability benefits – adjusting strategies to reflect what is achievable.  

Occupiers, meanwhile, are less focused on embodied carbon and more concerned with operational efficiency and lower running costs. This shift is prompting asset managers to adopt a more pragmatic stance, balancing ambition with realistic targets. As Laura noted, 鈥淲e are not drawing back from ESG, but we are bringing in a realistic stance on what can be achieved.鈥� 

Key takeaways for the year ahead

Based on 海角视频鈥檚 panel discussion, it is clear that ESG in 2026 will be defined by delivery rather than ambition alone. Alignment with occupiers, rigorous data and asset鈥憀evel action will shape investment decisions, with operational performance taking precedence as owners focus on managing risk, cost, and resilience.  

The direction of travel is clear: prioritise actions that protect value today, measure outcomes with confidence, and build momentum over time. ESG has moved beyond targets and terminology – it is now central to creating resilient and future鈥憆eady portfolios.