The South West region adopted the Sustainable Development Framework - "A Sustainable Future for the South West" - in 2001. It provides a vision, guidelines and objectives for everyone in the region to improve our quality of life now and for future generations.

It has the endorsement of the South West Regional Assembly together with the support of other bodies including: Government Office for the South West, The South West Regional Development Agency, The Environment Agency, The Countryside Agency, The National Health Executive for the South West, English Heritage, English Nature, The RSPB, Friends of the Earth, The National Trust and the South West Association for Education and Training (SWAFET). The Framework was produced in consultation with these bodies (and many others) by Sustainability South West (SSW) the region's independent champion for sustainability in the region.

This Charter is one of a series of initiatives by SSW and its partners that seek to turn the aspirations of the Sustainable Development Framework into real change on the ground. The development of our region will involve a lot of new building and refurbishment. It makes good economic, social and environmental sense to set high construction standards for the benefit of all in the region. The Charter provides a set of sustainable construction principles and information on all the key elements of building for a better South West .

The more people and organisations who commit to this charter the closer we will get to achieving sustainability.