International BusinessUnited Kingdom/Singapore/China/Common to All Countries

United Kingdom

Our full-scale entry into the UK housing market is contributing solutions to housing challenges.

In May 2019, we undertook our full-scale entry into the UK housing market in partnership with Homes England, a UK government agency, and Urban Splash, an integrated real estate company. The chronic housing shortage in the UK has become a social issue, resulting in a shortage of about four million houses. In addition, the traditional stone-and-brick construction methods used for local houses are associated with challenges in terms of productivity, construction time, and quality, and a high-quality housing alternative is demanded. We believe we can contribute solutions to these issues by employing our high-quality, short-schedule industrialized housing technology. Notably, the UK government aims to decarbonize by 2050; from our experience with ZEH gained from our track record in Japan, we are confident we can help to solve the environmental problems facing the UK.

Challenge

A shortage of 4 million houses
A need for quality housing to replace stone and brick structures
Mandatory implementation of ZEH (Zero Carbon) as of 2025

Response

Establishment of a joint venture with the government agency Homes England and the real estate company Urban Splash
Launch of in-house production of high-quality modular housing
Production of environmentfriendly housing including zero carbon incorporating energyefficient technology

High-quality, highperformance townhouses in New Islington

Introducing the Gohon no ki project in residential developments

In housing developments in the UK, which are incorporating the perspective of biodiversity conservation, we are undertaking research to incorporate biodiversity conservation efforts such as the Gohon no ki indigenous landscaping project in these sites.

Singapore

Adapting “slow living” to the local culture

The One Holland Village Development

The One Holland Village Project–undertaken with our joint business partners Far East Organization and Sino Group– is an integrated complex incorporating dwellings, serviced apartments, commercial facilities, and offices. The residential building, a comfortable space of our own design, adopts the concept of “slow living” and aims to provide residents with a calm and peaceful living space. The Singapore version of slow living incorporates three specific themes: Balcony Life (balcony space with consideration for privacy and a linkage between the interior and exterior); Storage (easy-to-use storage spaces where they are needed); and Flexibility (design for variability). One Holland Village was also conceived as an environment-friendly development with plans for greenery and a regional heating and cooling system that exceeds regulatory requirements throughout the project. We will continue to create value in Singapore by sharing our ideas on sustainability and contributing to local communities in concert with our local partners.

China

Creating living spaces constructed to a high standard to accommodate both the homeowner's perspective and the health of the environment

Taicang Yuqin Garden, highly regarded as an environment-friendly building

We are developing townhouse and condominium projects under the Sekisui House Yuqin brands in the cities of Taicang, Suzhou, and Wuxi on the outskirts of Shanghai and in the northeastern city of Shenyang. The Taicang I Project (Taicang Yuqin Garden) earned high praise for its residence-perspective manufacturing and environmental considerations, garnering the 2019 Gold Award of the Tien-yow Jeme Civil Engineering Prize in the Excellence Housing Category (China Civil Engineering Society; equivalent to grand prize of the Architectural Institute of Japan). In China, which emits large amounts of CO₂, we will continue to make use of environmental technologies tailored to the perspective of the homeowner.

Common to All Countries

Strengthening governance through close collaboration with Japan

To maintain close communication, our head office in Japan and various departments hold separate meetings twice monthly with our local subsidiaries in each country. Since April 2020, we have been conducting base management training mainly for management groups selected from each country. We are also strengthening governance by clearly communicating our corporate philosophy and management policy in each country and promoting mutual understanding.

Activities of the International Auditing Office and establishment of our International Whistleblowing System

We are working to strengthen governance at local subsidiaries in each country through a focus on the activities of the International Auditing Office, which was established in April 2019. In June 2020, we established an International Whistleblowing System with thirdparty law firms as a point of contact, in addition to maintaining our in-house reporting system at our local subsidiaries in the U.S.A., Australia, the UK, and Singapore (excluding Woodside Homes). If the law firm receives a report from an employee of a local subsidiary, the report is communicated directly to the head office to ensure the system operates as intended, ensuring its effectiveness.