South East housebuilders Dandara appoints new head of ESG

Published by

Tom Kilkelly

Lesley Tracey, iStock

Dandara, a housebuilding company with offices in Kent and Southampton, has appointed Lesley Tracey as the company's new head of ESG.

The role is one that the company has created to meet net zero targets.

Her new role will involve developing a a new long term Sustainability Strategy for Dandara group, which covers both Dandara Housebuilding and Dandara Living.

Lesley said: “Sustainability isn’t just something to talk about; it must become embedded in the culture and identity of the business. Dandara want to do the right thing, not because it sounds good, but because it sees a real opportunity to make a significant difference.”

Expecting to deliver a net zero carbon pathway by the end of the year, she said: “Through this trajectory, we will respond positively to regulatory and legislative requirements, as well as the increasing expectations of our investors, customers and our own colleagues.”

Lesley has previously worked for HSBC as well as other housebuilders including Countryside and Fairview.

One of her tasks is to develop an inhouse training programme to give individual employees the opportunity to upskill, helping them develop as their careers progress.

CEO of Dandara Trevor Dempsey said: “The construction industry has a heavy carbon footprint which is in need of mitigation. At Dandara, we are wholly committed to managing the impact of our developments responsibly, from waste reduction and water conservation to energy efficiency and durability. We already use accredited assessment tools such as the Home Quality Mark and BREEAM.

“However, more must be done. That is why we have created a new role dedicated to ESG and Lesley will propel our sustainability strategy, ensuring environmental and social drivers are at the core of our business operations and delivering best practice across our sites.”

Tom Kilkelly

Tom Kilkelly started working as a freelance journalist for The Business Magazine following his graduation from UCL in 2022. During his studies Tom became very interested in the works of Irish authors including Samuel Beckett and Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan). His current role as a freelance business reporter is his first exposure to the world of business journalism. Working at TBM has given Tom the chance to really get to grips with the goings-on in the business hive that is the South East.