At Sustainable Structural Engineering, we believe in building a better future—one home at a time.
Based in Nottingham, we specialise in carbon-neutral structural designs for homeowners and architects across the East Midlands who share our passion for sustainability.
Led by Chartered Structural Engineer James Powers, with over 25 years of award-winning global experience, we deliver innovative, cost-effective, and eco-friendly solutions for domestic alterations.
From extensions to retrofits, our designs minimise environmental impact while maximising comfort, health, and beauty.
With fast turnarounds, clear communication, and a commitment to offsetting all embodied carbon, we’re here to make your sustainable vision a reality. Let’s create spaces that are good for you and the planet.
Carbon Neutral Structural Design
Carbon Neutral Structural Design
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our story
Sustainable Structural Engineering was born in 2025 from a vision to create healthy, sustainable homes that leave a positive mark on the planet. Founded by James Powers, a Chartered Structural Engineer with over 25 years of global experience, our story begins with a return to Nottingham—a city I proudly call home after years abroad. Inspired by my work in New Zealand, where I ran Oculus, a firm dedicated to designing comfortable, eco-friendly buildings, I launched Sustainable Structural Engineering to bring those lessons to the East Midlands.
A defining moment came as project director of Australasia’s first Passive House multistorey social housing. Witnessing the transformative health benefits for residents—better air quality, warmer homes—showed me the power of sustainable design to change lives. That experience drives our mission: to deliver carbon-neutral structural solutions that are cost-effective, buildable, and beautiful. Whether it’s a low-carbon extension, a structural survey, or a damp assessment, we use tools like WUFI and BIM to solve problems with pragmatism and transparency.
In Nottingham, I saw an opportunity to address local challenges while advancing the UK’s Net Zero 2050 goals. Our unique approach puts skin in the game: we offset the embodied carbon of every design at our cost through Carbon Neutral Britain, ensuring sustainability isn’t a burden on clients. We partner with local suppliers to maximize recycled materials, reducing carbon footprints while keeping costs down. Our clients—homeowners and architects—are at the heart of every project, empowered with clear, non-technical options to make informed decisions.
Looking ahead, I envision Sustainable Structural Engineering leading the East Midlands in designing buildings that sequester carbon, balancing both embodied and operational emissions. In 5 to 10 years, we aim to expand services, including energy modelling, to create homes that actively remove CO2 from the environment. Our story is one of innovation, community, and responsibility—building a greener future, one Nottingham home at a time.
Join us on this journey. Schedule a Meeting to start your sustainable project today!
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