Sustainable Built Environment East (SBEE)

SBEE was formed in 2008 by merging the Sustainability East Sustainable Construction sub-group; the Towards Zero Carbon Development Sub-Group of the Sustainable Communities Delivery Group and the CIC East Sustainable Construction Sub-group.

SBEE is an independent expert body, bringing together specialists from across the construction sector, to consider issues impacting on the delivery of growth, sustainable communities and the built environment. Members are able to give views that are not constrained by extant government policy or by the natural limitations of trade bodies.

With representation from delivery agencies, the construction industry, transport, government and academia, the group offers the opportunity to champion the development and adoption of new technology into new communities and other building projects as part of the growth agenda, as well as improving the environmental performance of the existing stock. The partnership works closely with CIC East, the voice of the construction industry in the region and Sustainability East, the sustainable development champion body.

SBEE does not receive any funding: its resources are the goodwill and intellectual capacity if its members. Whilst not representing any one sector or group, it seeks to position itself as the regional voice for sustainability in the built environment, focusing on key issues and influencing relevant policy debates.

Membership as at January 2010

Alex Plant, Cambridgeshire Horizons (Chair)
Vanessa Tilling, GO East (Secretariat)
Robert Blake, Summit Skills
Daniel Bluemore, EEDA
Paul Bourgeois, Low Carbon Britain
Rob Bresler, NISP
Nigel Brigham, Sustrans
John Canton, ICE
Ian Cooper, Eclipse Research Consultants
Andrew Day, Countryside Properties
Dan Durrant, Inspire East
James Fisher, BRE
Nigel Gibbs, RTPI
Sarah Greenwood, English Partnerships
John Hall, Constructing Excellence
Pete Johnson, Kier Group Construction Division
John Lefever, Hastoe Housing
Richard Lloyd, Energy Saving Trust
Mike Malina, ME Sustainability (ECA/HVCA)
Alice Moncaster, Cambridge University
Brian Murphy, Green Specification
Helen Osgood, Federation of Master Builders
Chrissie Pepper, Sustainability East
David Potter, RICS
Carole Randall, Renewables East
Richard Tavener, RICS
Michael Warner, HVCA
Clare Watkins, Environment Agency
Andrew Wilson Ridgeons Group Ltd

SBEE Objectives

• Enable all sectors of the development and construction industries (including local authorities) to have appropriate skills and capacity to respond to the low carbon development and sustainable community policy objectives and targets.
• Be recognised as the regional voice for sustainable built environment issues, through our strong connectivity to all sectors associated with delivery of sustainable communities and built environment.
• Seek to ensure a balanced sustainable built environment perspective is considered and understood in the development of regional strategies.

Some actions to date:

• Heavy v Lightweight conference. An event developed following a cross industry survey that identified the issue as an area of concern.
• The Sustainable Procurement Guidance cards.The SME construction related businesses have been identified as a ‘hard to reach’ sector of the industry with a low level of engagement and understanding of: sustainability: latest policy and legislation; waste minimisation and low carbon construction techniques. The cards were designed as an easily accessible first step to raising awareness and understanding.
• Supply chain maps, for both new and existing developments, have been prepared to assist in identifying gaps in sectoral representation and to illustrate the suggested scope of SBEE involvement.
• Response to the Region’s Implementation Plan
• Response to the Regional Spatial Strategy review

The Secretary issues regular bulletins which include information on new policies, consultations, events and news items which are relevant to the construction industry.If you would like to be included in the circulation for these bulletins, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it