The American writer Norman Vincent Peale once wrote: ‘To be successful is to be helpful, caring and constructive, to make everything and everyone you touch a little bit better.’

From a property development perspective, many would perceive the industry as successful, but few would probably associate the sector with being helpful, caring and making things better.

But for property and investment companies, this should no longer be an alien or aspirational concept.

Led by innovative, passionate professionals who truly care, companies such as Zunikh are blazing a trail for others to follow.

For us, being socially responsible and community-focused has always been our remit.

Not only is this simply the right thing to do – a desire for all to prosper – but society itself demands it.

In an age of ever greater scrutiny of property developers (both at a governmental/policy and public level), trust is key and actions must speak louder than words.

From policymakers bringing in legislation and forming bodies (such as the government’s Build Better, Build Beautiful commission here in the UK) to the general public, there is now an insistence that property development is ethical and progressive in its activities.

These principles must be all-encompassing but three key factors are:

If a property developer regards those who will ultimately purchase/use their developments as merely a source of profit, they are missing a wonderful and unique opportunity to foster a fruitful and mutually beneficial relationship with these people and communities.

Factor in the power of public opinion these days – where a single social media post can garner thousands, potentially millions, of interactions (both good and bad) – and it’s clear that good community engagement can be the difference between a company’s reputation being severely compromised or, conversely, enhanced.

And above all, community engagement helps property developers and investors impact real and positive change. You can realise profits and be a force for good – neither are mutually exclusive.

Consistently engaging with key stakeholders – from residents, landowners, local community groups, schools and local government officials – will ensure a development is more than bricks and mortar; it’s a project that everybody can get on board with.

Locally, nationally and globally, there has, quite rightly, never been more focus on how we look after the world around us, especially given the very real threat of climate change.

From the world’s most powerful politicians to the man or woman on the street, sustainability is a key concern for all – as is our personal and shared carbon footprints.

In the UK, the government’s Construction 2025 strategy set a target in 2013 for a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment by 2025, and this has resulted in ever-increasing scrutiny and legislation for the property sector.

The best will have already been ahead of the curve, not pivoting due to legislation, but because of a belief that sustainable buildings that have a minimal (or even beneficial) impact on the environment is simply the right thing to do.

As demand increases, so does the need for quality developments but this must not come at a cost to public welfare. A good development will enhance an area, not detract from it.

Considerations such as existing local infrastructure; available amenities; transport; CO2 emissions and many more need to be factored in to the extent that stakeholders – including the community – can feel confident and reassured that any proposed development has been scoped out meticulously to ensure the project will act as a force for good.

If we can’t invest in and/or develop a piece of land in a way that enhances it and the people using it, we won’t acquire it. It’s that simple.

Even our profits will have a profound effect on the communities we serve – with 50% of our gross profits set to go to worthy causes each year through our Zunikh Foundation.

Given we have no limitations in terms of size of a project, or in the expertise, experience and knowledge we can call upon, we can be selective in terms of what developments we take on.

All our investments and developments align to our six guiding principles – Professional; Commercial; Entrepreneurial; Ethical; Honest; Fair.

A key tenet which guides all six of these is regular dialogue with all stakeholders and that, of course, includes the communities which will benefit from our projects – be they residential or commercial in nature.

To see how our ethical approach is helping empower communities, click here.

By Sean Gough
Chief Commercial Officer