John Swinney appointed as Sustainability Lead for Greener Herts

Hertfordshire-based housing associations B3Living, settle and Watford Community Housing have appointed John Swinney as their Sustainability Lead.

This newly created role will work across all three organisations, with a focus on adopting more sustainable ways of working, reducing the negative impacts of construction, and investing in energy-efficient homes that will help residents to save money.

John, who is also the current CEO of Just Housing and Chair of 3SC, has vast experience working across a variety of public and private sector companies, including 20 years in local government, as well as previously serving as Chair of Watford Community Housing’s Group Board. He has been appointed to lead the Greener Herts partnership between the three housing associations, and will work to ensure that the organisations employ modern, eco-friendly construction techniques and reduce overall carbon output from their homes. 

Speaking on his first day in the new post, John Swinney said: “I’m so pleased to be working across such an engaged, forward-thinking partnership that clearly sees the importance and value in sustainable ways of working. Now, more than ever, residents need cost-effective, energy-efficient homes, and the organisations that provide these homes have an obligation to be as eco-friendly as possible in the process of doing so.”

Between them, the three housing associations own and manage around 20,000 homes in Hertfordshire. Together, they are joint-funding this position in a move to ensure further collaboration, driving forward joint procurement and targeting a net zero carbon output by 2050.

Commenting on the appointment, Gavin Cansfield, Chief Executive of settle said: “Sustainable ways of working and modern construction methods are a huge focus for this partnership, which is why it’s so reassuring to have John as our sustainability lead. He has a wealth of experience to draw from and an outstanding track record in the industry, and I look forward to what we’ll achieve with his guidance and leadership.”