Our Approach to Sustainability

Our Approach to Sustainability.

At GCW we want to lead the debate, influence our stakeholders, and champion sustainability principles to secure a better future for all.

By starting our sustainability journey, we believe it will offer huge opportunities for our business, our clients, our people and the towns, cities, and communities we work in.

We want the chance to help shape our future by working with our clients and stakeholders to put sustainability, in its widest sense, at centre stage.

View Our GCW 2023 Sustainability Action Plan here

Embedding sustainability.

We see a real opportunity to marry economic and environmental revitalisation. The role of town centres is changing, and the property industry will be instrumental in ensuring they remain fit for purpose.

Our vision focuses on creating adaptive, community-centric hubs with clean, green spaces. Through our collaboration with stakeholders, we aim to drive positive change in urban environments.

Our ethos and culture.

We are seeking to strike a balance between People, Profit, and Planet. GCW are agitators of ideas, valuing individuality, opinion and innovative ideas that challenge the status quo. This is demonstrated within our workplace as well as with our clients.

As thought leaders, we aim to help our clients see the value of sustainability being at the heart of urban design, whilst creating resilient mixed-use spaces that will stand the test of time. By ensuring that our culture and ethos are aligned with those of our partners, we can be truly transformative.

Supporting sustainable communities.

We are passionate about helping to build strong communities, be it within our own business or as part of our role in delivering urban regeneration.

Buildings are only meaningful when they serve the needs of their users. Our on-the-ground expertise ensures understanding of local demands, enabling our clients to create assets with identity, purpose, and longevity.

Prioritising what’s important to GCW and our stakeholders

We will use our platform to inspire and drive measurable change, partnering with key stakeholders—Our Clients, Our Community, Our Suppliers, and Our Staff.

Together we can help shape these places for the benefit of all.

Economic Responsibility.

GCW are committed to:

  • Diversity & Inclusivity
  • Managing conflicts of interest openly and transparently
  • Operating with integrity
  • Approaching all work with diligence
  • Providing clients with solutions that add value to their assets
  • Exceeding minimum legal requirement for mitigating money laundering activity

What our clients say.

"GCW have been my principal retail adviser for over 25 years. I have always found them to be knowledgeable and, crucially, commercially astute. The advice I have sought has more recently morphed from finding tenants to full re-positioning strategies and they have given me an excellent service every time."

John Heller, CEO
London & Associated Properties Plc

"UK Estates has been working with GCW for several years. They have been involved in the very successful sale of a number of our properties, as well as offering a broad range of professional services. In providing these, they have demonstrated an intimate and comprehensive knowledge of the locations in particular and the market in general, and a commitment to achieving the best results for us as a client."

David Gradel, Chairman
UK Estates Limited

"GCW has been an excellent advisor to UBS providing us with detailed, balanced and importantly very honest advice."

Oliver Abram, Director
UBS Asset Management (UK) Ltd

“Elmbridge have used the services of GCW on a number of occasions over the years.  Their knowledge is second to none and they always give clear honest advice.  We trust them in all they do for us.”

Stuart La Frenais, Property Portfolio Manager
Elmbridge Borough Council

"These are challenging times for the retail property market.  Under those circumstances you need a consultant that understands the structural changes taking place. The GCW team have become trusted advisers to us who can tap into a broad range of skill sets and experiences beyond retail to assist in identifying opportunities to help drive performance of retail assets."

Rupert Wood, Property Director, Asset Management
St Modwen Plc

"Many town centres are experiencing structural change, where very often traditional shopping is no longer the single dominant activity. This requires stakeholders and investors to think more creatively about their retail assets and their future roles.  GCW have become trusted advisers to Benson Elliot on projects such as Vicarage Field, Barking and Quedam Centre, Yeovil, where we will be delivering mixed use urban regeneration projects over the next few years."

Peter Cornforth, Director
Benson Elliot Capital Management LLP

"GCW have worked with CBRE Global Investors for over 15 years and have always provided honest, straightforward advice whether acting on a sale, advising on a purchase, undertaking a letting or negotiating a lease re-gear. They will identify and highlight potential issues in a transaction and endeavour to find solutions to enable it to proceed, where appropriate."

Alex Mills, Senior Director
CBRE Global Investors

"We have worked with GCW for many years and regard them as one of our trusted advisors. They have been instrumental in buying and selling key assets on our behalf and provide an invaluable leasing service in respect to several of our shopping centre projects."

Caitriona Hunter, Director
CBRE Global Investors

"Over the years GCW have helped KFC and their franchise partners build their varied and flexible restaurant portfolio.  This has covered acquisitions across out of town, edge of town, roadside and town centre locations, from the smaller in town formats to traditional drive thru restaurants.  Their market knowledge and boots on the ground approach has proved invaluable to us, given our desire to grow the brand."

Dan Gardner, Acquisitions and Estates Director
KFC UKI

"GCW work closely with us on one of our key town centre assets.  We value the breadth of experience they bring to the project and the forthright and candid nature of the advice they provide."

Jonathan Gregory, Principal Investment Surveyor
Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council