Who I am

I’m James Powers, a Chartered Structural Engineer (CEng) and the founder of Sustainable Structural Engineering, based in Nottingham. With over 25 years of international experience designing award-winning buildings across the UK, Middle East, and Australasia, I bring a wealth of expertise to every project. My passion for sustainable, healthy, and cost-effective design drives our mission to create carbon-neutral homes that enhance lives and protect the planet.

As a proud member of the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), I specialize in eco-friendly solutions, integrating Passive House principles and advanced tools like WUFI and AI to deliver innovative structural designs, surveys, and damp assessments.

Whether you’re a homeowner dreaming of a low-carbon extension or an architect crafting a sustainable building, I’m committed to providing fast, clear, and collaborative solutions—80% of proposals within 2 working days and 85% of reports within 3 working days. Every project is designed with sustainability at its core, with embodied carbon calculated and offset through Carbon Neutral Britain.

Based in the East Midlands, I understand the unique challenges of our region’s homes, from damp in Victorian terraces to clay soil movement. My goal is to make sustainable structural engineering accessible, transparent, and impactful, helping you create spaces that are safe, beautiful, and kind to the environment. Let’s build a greener future together.