Joseph Homes had announced the appointment of David Montague CBE as chair, in a move that reflects the next phase of growth for the company.
The appointment follows the developer recently becoming a B Corporation (B Corp) certified business, which is awarded for taking a holistic view on impact and reward, while prioritising people and the planet.
Another recent success was the approved planning on its sustainability-conscious scheme, Sylvan Grove, a development that raises the bar in carbon reduction for tall buildings through an innovative energy strategy.
This echoes the Joseph Homes commitment towards a more holistic approach to building better homes and spaces for a better world. Montague will assume his position as chair immediately and provide stewardship and governance as the business continues to deliver on its diversifying portfolio.
Montague’s appointment represents a natural progression in the next phase for Joseph Homes, driven to source individuals who are well versed in social change and have applied it to make a difference to the housebuilding industry.
This way of thinking is central to the Joseph Homes Live Well® manifesto, which is the founding principles that drives everything the company does.
This appointment is rooted in the shared belief that powerful and courageous values can change the world and supports the developer’s meaningful mission to create more mindful and sustainable spaces.
Joseph Rajah, founder and CEO of Joseph Homes, said: “The appointment of David was an immediate and obvious choice.
“We recognised the need for our chair to understand what we want to achieve and how we are going to do it, and in David, I saw someone that has stood tall in the pursuit of meaningful change.
“He has been holding up the ceiling for others for many years and raising the bar for what it means to be successful.
“There is already a good symbiotic energy between the Joseph Homes executive team and David because of their extensive experience and shared sense of value.
“He recognises what we are about and how to put energy behind our activism to make an impactful change.
“The built environment sector has a duty to improve its standards by taking a holistic view on impact and reward.
“Right now, the country is facing the challenge of climate change, toxicity in our homes, a housing crisis, a disenfranchised generation, and a lack of engagement in the neighbourhoods within which we operate.
“Addressing these issues profitably is a journey and a challenge that Joseph Homes rises to, and with David as our chair we are better placed to push forward with challenging the status quo, at scale.”
David Montague said: “Joseph Homes is not just about bricks and mortar, it’s about creating places and thriving communities.
“It is about respecting the planet and delivering quality and innovation through build. The B Corp certification is a good example of this, as it speaks to Joseph Homes’ commitment to the environment and towards a net zero future. That is what attracted me to be part of the journey.
“Joseph Homes has already accomplished a great deal towards their mission. They have set out a strategy that starts with ambition and recognises that people want more from their homes than they are perhaps used to.
“Over the last 33 years at L&Q, I created something as part of a team, which made a lasting and significant impact on where I live.
“The reason I committed so much time to L&Q is because I believed in their mission, and that’s exactly why I decided to join Joseph Homes.
“The mission they’re working towards is both honourable and ambitious, and I want to help Joseph Homes make an impact nationally, in both the private and public sectors.
“At the end of the day, we have a responsibility to look after the planet and leave the next generation a better world than the one we have today. What an extraordinary legacy that would be to leave behind.”
Joseph Homes pledge
As part of its mission, Joseph Homes has pledged to deliver a portfolio of entirely energy-positive buildings by 2025 spanning new homes, student housing, industrial, and occupied offices.
The landmark Sylvan Grove scheme represents this pledge, and will see large carbon reductions through an innovative energy strategy.
The developer, known for its green credentials, is one of less than 100 companies worldwide to sign the World Green Building Council’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment.
This is a proactive promise toward decarbonising the built environment, at a time when Green Building Council figures show that the UK construction industry wastes c.25% (100 million tonnes) of material each year and 40% of the UK’s total carbon footprint comes from households.
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