St Modwen Logistics, a Blackstone company, has completed Longbridge 155, a £20 mln (€23 mln), 155,000 ft2 (14,400 m2) facility, which is rated as one of the most sustainable warehouses in the UK.
The asset includes 9,500 ft2 of grade A office space and is distinguished by an EPC A+ energy rating and BREAAM Outstanding certification.
The building features 1,600 m2 of rooftop solar PV panels, which generates a significant proportion of clean energy used by the grade A offices that form part of the Longbridge 155, qualifying the building to be rated officially net zero carbon in operation.
This PV offering also has the potential to be expanded to cover the entire roof to meet the demands of any prospective occupier.
Energy savings are also made thanks to the installation of air source heat pumps, which heat and cool the unit using innovative hybrid technology. Using ambient air with low GWP (Global warming potential) pumps further reduces the building’s dependency on more energy intensive alternatives.
Polly Troughton, managing director at St Modwen Logistics, said: 'Longbridge is an area close to our hearts and we are really excited to open Longbridge 155.
'From day one, we have wanted this unit to be as sustainable and energy efficient as possible to support our customers’ needs and we have worked tirelessly alongside our partners GMI Construction to make this a reality.
'Our customers tell us that rising costs, attracting and retaining staff, and meeting company ESG targets are their biggest focus at the moment.'
According to St Modwen, the building ranks in the top 1% of UK non-domestic / industrial buildings for sustainability. The firm calculates that the roof-mounted solar generation alone could lead to savings worth in the order of £100,000 a year, when compared with similar buildings for controlled and uncontrolled energy use.
The building also comes with 15% roof light coverage, providing sufficient daylight to illuminate the warehouse and decrease the dependence on artificial lighting. In the offices, increased window heights allow for more natural light.
All the LED lighting is smart enabled with Bluetooth connectivity to allow for customisation, as well as using motion sensors to reduce wastage.
Rainwater harvesting methods allow the building to use recycled water in a variety of ways, from flushing its WCs to washing fleet vehicles, whilst the building also reserves 20% of its car parking spaces for EV vehicles to encourage greener travel.
Gareth Jones, joint divisional management director at GMI Construction, said: “We’re thrilled to have reached practical completion and handed over a high-quality, sustainable warehouse to St Modwen Logistics. The sustainable design is very much in line with our values as a construction company and we are very proud to have been a part of this project.'
