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British Land’s Sustainability and Climate Change exhibition is helping to act as a catalyst for change and enabling shoppers and office workers to reduce their individual environmental impact.

Launched in September the exhibition has visited eight British Land venues with a footfall of circa 2.5 million people. The company has now committed to extend the exhibition to a further six venues during the next five months.

Aimed at raising awareness of what simple measures individuals and businesses can take to reduce their resource use and related carbon footprint, the exhibition is part of British Land’s drive to reduce water, waste and energy across its £20 billion property portfolio.

Surveys carried out at each venue show that 96 per cent of people rated reducing environmental impact as very important/important for companies to do and that reducing energy use and increasing recycling are the two most important environmental initiatives.

As a result of viewing the exhibition almost 1,000 shoppers and visitors have undertaken to improve their own environmental impact:

• 42 per cent plan to switch to green power which could reduce carbon emissions by 630 tonnes a year – equivalent to over 500 flights return flights between London and New York.

• 39 per cent now plan to install water saving devices which could save up to 600,000 litres annually - enough for 30,000 dishwasher cycles.

• 23 per cent plan to install energy saving light bulbs – saving 64,000 kWh electricity - sufficient to run 330 refrigerators for a year.

• 21 per cent plan to lower their thermostat which could save up to 45 tonnes of carbon emissions a year, equivalent to 265 one way flights between London and Athens.

• 19 per cent now plan to recycle glass and paper regularly – saving up to 250 trees and enough energy to power a computer for more than 10,000 hours.

• 19 per cent pledged to start using public transport more which could potentially reduce carbon emissions by nearly 50 tonnes a year.

British Land has reduced substantially its own environmental impact for the third consecutive year in 2006/7 and has committed to accelerating its initiatives with the aim of becoming carbon neutral by 2008/2009.

Peter Clarke, Executive Officer, British Land, said: “Reducing our impact on the environment poses a challenge for all of us but it should also be viewed as an opportunity. If we reduce, re-use and recycle wherever we can we also benefit by making significant cost savings at home and at work. Extending the exhibition for a further five months will help keep the momentum behind the growing awareness that small changes can make a significant financial difference, personally and professionally.”

Between September and December, the exhibition visited: British Land’s head office, York House, The Broadgate Estate and Regent’s Place in London. Also, Eastgate Shopping Centre, Broughton/Chester Shopping Park, Teesside Shopping Park, Glasgow Fort Shopping Park and Edinburgh Shopping Park.

Notes to Editors:

· The exhibition, inspired by Business in the Community, uses a series of giant billboards and static displays bearing practical information and easy measures that will help everyone to reduce their carbon footprint and make good environmental choices. The displays touch on the issues of energy use, carbon emissions, sustainable transport, water use, recycling and waste reduction.

· British Land is the largest UK REIT by assets (£15.9 billion) with total assets under management of £20 billion, as at September 30, 2007.

· The portfolio, focused on the growth sectors of London Offices and Out of Town Retail, has the longest leases (14.4 years) and the highest occupancy rate (99 percent) of the major UK REITs.

· Retail assets account for 56 per cent of the portfolio, 83 per cent of which is in prime out-of-town locations. Offices account for 42 per cent of the portfolio of which 99 per cent is London-based and includes a £4 billion office development pipeline coming to fruition between now and 2011.

· With sustainability at the core of its business - from community involvement in the planning process, through development, refurbishment and management - the aim is to provide attractive buildings that minimise resource use and meet the needs of occupiers today and tomorrow.

· British Land was voted “Sustainable Developer of the Year” at Building Magazine’s annual Sustainable Awards for 2007.

· New exhibition venues in 2008 include: The Kingston Centre, Milton Keynes; Peacocks Shopping Centre, Woking; Birstall Shopping Park, Leeds; Parkgate Shopping Park, Rotherham; Serpentine Green Shopping Centre, Peterborough; Beaumont Leys, Leicester.

Date: Monday, 10 December, 2007

Media enquiries

Laura De Vere

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