Bruntwood has received planning permission for the new £31m Ev0 Building, which will be the UK’s lowest carbon new build workspace in Didsbury Technology Park, South Manchester
The Ev0 building will meet LETI 2020 design targets for upfront carbon, RIBA 2025 targets for whole-life carbon and the UK Green Building Council’s (UKGBC) Paris Proof operational energy use targets, making Ev0 net zero in both construction and ongoing operation.
It also targets a NABERS 5.5 star rating, the highest level of environmental performance in use.
The development will have a mass timber frame, which can capture and store carbon, ensuring it is not released back into the atmosphere until the end of its lifespan.
According to a white paper published by the Structural Timber Association (STA) in March 2022, increased use of wood as a building material is vital if the government is to meet its climate change commitments.
The Ev0 Building will reduce running costs by 58%
The Ev0 Building will have an estimated running cost of 58% lower than a traditional new build, supporting future occupiers in mitigating the risks and uncertainty of rising energy costs.
It will be a fully electric development, with up to 94% of its energy requirement generated through photovoltaics on its roof and car park, acting as a series of mini power plants.
The development has employed parametric design principles to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the building. This includes a facade designed to minimise solar gain and overheating on the south and westerly elevations and maximise solar gain on the north and east elevations.
Ev0 will have many onsite amenities, including a gym, cafe, customer lounge, cycle storage and event space.
The building will provide 82,549 sq ft of workspace
The new Ev0 Building will provide 82,549 sq ft of workspace over six storeys and sit between Sir William Siemens House, Spire Hospital and Bruntwood Works’ Ohm Building at Didsbury Technology Park in Greater Manchester.
The development has the support of many strategic partners, including Sheppard Robson, Ramboll, Deloitte Real Estate, OFR Consultants, Turner & Townsend, and Ward Williams Associates.
The development has been a part of Bruntwoods sustainability plans for many years
In 2018, Bruntwood became the first property company in the UK to sign up to the UK Green Building Council’s Net Zero Carbon commitment. Since then, it has been improving its buildings, adapting its development approach and creating a sustainability policy to reach that goal.
Bruntwood reaffirmed its commitment to a net zero future in 2021, becoming a founder signatory to the World Green Building Council’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment and signing up to the United Nations-backed global campaign, Race to Zero.
In 2022, it launched Bruntwood’s Net Zero Pathway – a clear strategy to fulfilling its sustainability ambitions.
Andrew Butterworth, commercial director at Bruntwood, commented: “As we continue to work towards our net zero goals, it’s incredibly exciting to gain planning approval for Ev0, a development which has been a major part of our sustainability plans for a number of years.
“Property companies across the UK promote their developments as ‘best’ for various reasons, without openly releasing their supporting figures in the public domain. We have the evidence to substantiate Ev0’s sustainability credentials, and are openly publishing and updating data online to support this.
“Across our business, we’re taking a holistic approach to achieving net zero, putting the onus on reducing our emissions by transitioning to clean energy, improving biodiversity and green spaces, building and fitting out with sustainable or recycled materials, moving to a net zero vehicle fleet, reducing and reusing waste, and lessening water consumption, and we’re actively supporting our customers, partners and suppliers to achieve similar milestones.
“As a market-leader, Ev0 will support businesses using the workspace to meet their own net zero goals and serve as a blueprint for future development. We’re looking forward to getting underway and creating this new sustainably-minded community.”
Work is expected to commence onsite in autumn 2023, and complete in late 2024.
