Research partnership aims to improve sustainability of Australia’s retail sector

Lend Lease and the University of Newcastle, with the support of the Australian Government’s Australian Research Council, have formed a research partnership to investigate possibilities in improving sustainability in the retail sector.

The research, which is set to challenge the traditional notion of shopping centres being designed with an enclosed format, is considering more than just environmental aspects. It will aim to crystallise the intangible aspects of shopping centre design and quantify the benefits of socially, financially, as well as environmentally sustainable retail developments.

A mix of traditional enclosed and semi-open centres in different temperature zones will be involved in the research.

Cate Collins, Head of Sustainability for Lend Lease Australia, said: “Retail centres typically have high levels of energy and water consumption, so we are excited to be working alongside the University of Newcastle to undertake this groundbreaking research program, which will have a significant impact on the sustainability future of Australia’s retail property sector, whilst also being of interest internationally.”

Professor Michael Ostwald, Project Chief Investigator and Dean of Architecture at the University of Newcastle, said: “Our research has identified a significant lack of understanding of shopper attitudes and behaviours to ecologically sustainable shopping centres.

“In order to design and build shopping centres that are ecologically sound and user friendly, we need to have a better appreciation of the needs and aspirations of shoppers, tenants, managers and owners.

"This study aims to identify ways that the traditional enclosed shopping centre format may be further developed to improve sustainability.”

Stuart Mendel, General Manager Retail for Bovis Lend Lease Australia, said: “The two-and-a-half-year research program will investigate consumer attitudes to sustainability and, importantly, enable us to identify tangible measures that can be evolved and implemented in the built retail form. It will also enable us to build on our strength and capability to deliver an integrated approach to sustainable design, construction and management in the retail sector.”

Focus group sessions and surveys of retail professionals and consumers will form the basis of the research. The program is scheduled to commence this month and is being partially funded by a grant from the Australian Government’s Australian Research Council.