TAKING ESG TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Achieve your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals far more swiftly and easily…and expect a saving instead of a cost.

TURNING A PROBLEM INTO AN OPPORTUNITY

EMPTY RATES & ESG BUDGET CHALLENGES

Commercial landlords face significant financial pressure from empty property rates, while ESG teams often struggle with the high costs and budget constraints associated with impactful ESG projects.

However, visionary industry leaders have transformed these dual challenges into unique opportunities. By rethinking traditional approaches, these forward-thinking landlords and ESG professionals successfully navigate financial pressures, administrative burdens, and the complexities of ESG budgeting.

BEING THE ‘HERO’ LANDLORD

There are some leaders in commercial real estate who proactively use empty spaces innovatively, benefiting both the community and their bottom line. These landlords are not merely managing empty properties—they’re reshaping the industry’s approach to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards.

Taking our charity-led option as a start point, we are witnessing how our landlord clients and partners are using this initiative to take ESG to another level.

Consider these three examples.

REINVESTING ALL SAVINGS INTO LOCAL COMMUNITY

Whatever savings LGIM makes, in terms of reduced empty rates, it reinvests 100% into the relevant local community.

MAKING ALL SPACES AVAILABLE TO CHARITIES

Some commercial spaces – such as those below a certain size – are exempt from empty rates. Notwithstanding this, BSQ (First Formations) has made the beautiful ‘small spaces’ in their prestigious Covent Garden offices available to various charities. Why? Because they can and it feels right!

AWARD-WINNING RECOGNITION FOR ESG

When one of LGIM’s commercial properties became vacant, we explored how to put in place a tenant that could truly enhance a neglected corner of the town. The impact of a FREE BOOKS shop, together with LGIM’s approach, led to a BEST ESG award in 2024.

We recognise that securing space is one of the biggest challenges charities face. By

offering free space at our offices in Covent Garden, we hope to save charities tens of

thousands of pounds each year… so they can dedicate more resources to their mission

rather than overhead costs. While we could lease it for profit, we believe supporting

local charities is the greater investment.

Graeme Donnelly

Founder & CEO, 1st Formations

HOW DOES IT WORK?

From a landlord’s perspective, ASTOP’s typical process of breaks down into three simple steps.

ENABLING YOU TO TURN A LIABILITY INTO AN ASSET

Step 1
Cost-Free Property Assessment
ASTOP assesses the suitability of your empty property for genuine charitable occupation, ensuring alignment with government criteria.
Step 2
Charity Placement
By having a vetted ‘good cause’ temporarily occupy your space, it transforms a liability into a beneficial community asset.
Step 3
Financial Savings
When you achieve significant relief from empty property rates, it frees up your financial resources to invest elsewhere.

CIL RELIEF FOR REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

For buildings awaiting redevelopment, placing a charity occupant for a minimum of 6 months can exempt developers from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). This strategic placement:

Ensures compliance with local regulations.
Provides immediate financial savings and enhanced community engagement.
Facilitates smoother planning permissions by demonstrating active community usage.
Often transforms an unviable site to a new buzzing development.

ACHIEVING YOUR ESG GOALS

This strategy empowers landlords and developers to meet—and exceed—their ESG and CSR commitments without stretching budgets. By collaborating with reputable charities, your empty spaces become active contributors to social good, enhancing your brand reputation while simultaneously improving financial efficiency.

A PROVEN SOLUTION

Our pioneering approach is applauded across the spectrum—from local councils to property owners and the communities served. ASTOP’s innovative model has consistently demonstrated measurable ESG benefits and significant savings, fostering genuine goodwill and community engagement.

An innovative and worthwhile use of what was previously an empty shop, and a valuable contribution to the revitalisation of the town centre, this is an initiative I wholeheartedly support.

Helen GoodmanMember of Parliament

Whereas we were facing a CIL bill that had the possibility of torpedoing our business plan… we now have a small rates bill… but nothing in comparison to what could have been a very, very large CIL bill.

William Polisano

As the Property Manager acting on behalf of Southend-on-sea City Council, we put forward the idea of ASTOP and their charity-led empty rates mitigation, because we know it’s an approach that works. The area has been enlivened by the trading and the increased footfall.

Sam ShoresProperty Manager, Savills

ASTOP EXPERTISE

With a robust track record dating back to 2010, ASTOP is the industry’s trusted leader in ethical empty rates mitigation and sustainable ESG initiatives. Our approach has set the standard for how commercial property owners can ethically optimise unused spaces.

In fact, our pioneering solution remains the only ethical, government-approved solution for mitigating empty rates.

FOUR BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO COMMERCIAL LANDLORDS

Empty Rates Mitigation of at least 50%

By qualifying (genuinely!) for charity relief

Empty Rates Mitigation of 100%+

When you provide temporary occupation to a charitable tenant for twelve months or more

Achieving CSR / ESG goals

Typically, it becomes possible for participating commercial landlords to achieve their CSR / ESG goals far more swiftly and easily, and without the usual cost and effort.

CIL savings

This solution brings with it the opportunity to be granted an exemption from CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) which can dwarf the empty rates savings and often transform an unviable site to a new buzzing new development.

(NB: One client managed to avoid exposure to a CIL payment of over £700,000… and this was an example of ethical, legitimate tax avoidance.)

Understand how to play ‘win-win’

Increasingly, different stakeholders in the commercial property world are realising that there is a way to play ‘win-win’ in a way they had not anticipated.

That is, the scope to choose an option that has positive repercussions, not just for commercial landlords, councils and charities… but also for the wider community.

If you’d like to see what options are open to you – whether a commercial landlord, council landlord, legal or commercial adviser, or as a charity (who would benefit from the opportunity to have a temporary rent-free space) don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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