In 2010, we purchased £351,100 of water (2009: £342,700), of which a large proportion was passed on to occupiers as it related to water consumption in their buildings and landscaping.

This increase in reported water costs was due to significant improvements in data comprehensiveness and accuracy, combined with the inclusion of the first full year of data for the former Brixton portfolio which was acquired in August 2009. Reported water usage reduced to 68,680 cubic metres in 2010, from 93,729 cubic metres in 2009. However, 2009 data included a large proportion of estimated data for UK water use.

We are working with our customers to reduce water usage, for instance by installing dual-flush toilets, low-flow taps and automatic urinal flushing, as well as introducing rainwater harvesting schemes. Our current developments are forecast, when completed, to use 10 per cent less mains water on average than current standards.

At La Courneuve (pictured), Gonesse and Marly La Ville near Paris, rainwater-harvesting schemes contributed to a reduction in mains water use of more than 10 per cent. We plan to incorporate a similar scheme for our new logistics building at Aéropark Gonesse.

Examples of water efficiency across our portfolio