The Wider Community

We believe vibrant and thriving communities underpin the long-term value of our estate and we want to contribute to their vitality. We seek to do this by working in partnership with them and identifying opportunities for inward investment; listening to their views when undertaking development projects; contributing to affordable housing; acting as a good neighbour and supporting community initiatives consistent with our corporate responsibility objectives.

In addition to the achievement of our 2006/07 CR targets we also have the following examples of our approach in action:

Our marine stewardship programme continues to be successful in giving recognition and financial support to projects that will enhance the coastal environment, provide for local communities and the public enjoyment of, and involvement in, the coast. For the seventh consecutive year, our marine stewardship fund has helped fund the Marine Conservation Society's (MCS) Campaign for CleanSeas.
During 2006 we involved the local community in Open Farm Sunday, Windsor Great Park and Glenlivet open days, Regent Street Festival (London), National Tree Week (events were held on four of our forestry estates), horticultural shows were held on two of our housing estates in London and many others.
We are committed to public realm improvements as a way of enhancing communities and aims to install public art where at all possible. An example of which is outside 16 New Burlington Place – our new HQ building.

2006/07 Targets & Achievements

1. Launch the employee volunteering scheme and monitor the number of hours spent by staff on volunteering.

(50% achieved) A new employee volunteering policy was launched in August 2006. It outlined The Crown Estate’s policy regarding procedure and time off entitlement for employees who wish to participate in volunteering their time and specified the procedure that they must follow. Further communication of the policy and monitoring of its implementation will be taken forward in the coming year.