A new report from Panshanger Park owners Tarmac, the sustainable building materials and construction solutions business, reveals how Hertfordshire’s communities have benefitted from £4m of social impact generated by its sites across the county.
The report, titled ‘Creating social impact in Hertfordshire’, was unveiled at this year’s Hertfordshire County Show. It shines a light on the positive impact the business has created for people, planet and place across Hertfordshire in 2023 and provides a framework for how Tarmac will continue to operate responsibly in the future.
As main sponsors of the County Show, Tarmac’s marquee hosted a range of activities for children, and was an opportunity to learn more about the company and what its operations bring to Hertfordshire. This included a focus on how the business is restoring former industrial sites into vibrant green spaces, like Panshanger Park and Waterford Heath, where it is enhancing biodiversity and ensuring natural spaces are accessible for the community.
With 2024 marking the 10th anniversary of the opening of Panshanger Park to the public, an estimated 5,165 hours were donated by volunteers last year alone, an army of supporters who maintain the landscape in partnership with Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust (HMWT) and Hertfordshire County Council.
In honour of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 17,341 trees and shrubs were also planted at the park to create the new Queen’s Wood. The planting of the woodland would not have been achieved without the hard work and dedication of volunteers, including local schools, residents, businesses and community groups.
Further findings from the report finds Tarmac’s wider operations across Hertfordshire have:
- Generated £1.16m social impact through giving local communities access to green space within 500m of their home
- Provided eight local apprenticeships and employed 39 people
- Contributed £40,200 social impact through mental and physical wellbeing support for local employees
David McCabe, Head of Land Development at Tarmac, said: “As a major landowner and business operating across Hertfordshire, Tarmac takes its commitment to long-term stewardship very seriously and we are constantly striving for ways we can create better futures for communities across the county.
“We believe carefully balancing economic growth with people, planet and place shouldn’t be mutually exclusive. Working in partnership with people and organisations across the county – and with our committed team of volunteers – we can achieve a balance which truly delivers for our community, environment and society.
“We are so grateful to all the volunteers who have helped to get us to the 10th anniversary of Panshanger Park, they play a key role in helping us to maintain and enhance the important habitats found in the park. We felt the Hertfordshire Show was a great place to recognise all their hard work and publicly thank them for their support.”
Looking ahead to 2030, Tarmac has outlined ambitious goals to further reduce its carbon footprint, target a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions, and continue its investment in community infrastructure and local economies.
The social impact report follows Tarmac signing the Hertfordshire Growth Board’s Development Quality Charter, pledging commitments to masterplanning and community engagement; incorporating social impact and environmental management systems into business models; and adhering to sustainability standards which exceed the minimum requirements set out in building regulations.
To download Tarmac’s report, ‘Creating Social Impact in Hertfordshire’, click here.
