Sustainability

The challenge at this site was to deliver a major step‑change in the regeneration of the area by delivering one of Islington’s largest office buildings that fully realises the social, economic and environmental redevelopment potential of the site, which previously contained poor quality and dated office floorspace.

Working with Make Architects, we used our in-depth knowledge and understanding of Islington’s policies and political objectives, to develop a robust narrative and planning assessment. This enabled the team to promote a new, innovative and carefully designed tall building for London’s skyline which substantially increases the office floorspace at the site, delivering flexible and small/micro workspace, while promoting and supporting the wellbeing of its users by creating a series of terraces and balconies so that outdoor amenity space is available throughout the building. The proposals also sought to revitalise the street scene at the site to provide a welcoming, vibrant and reactivated public realm to the prominent junction of Ropemaker Street and Finsbury Pavement.

We secured planning permission from Islington Council and sign off from the Mayor of London for this dynamic office building, which will bring over 45,000 square meters of new office space to the City fringe in flexible, adaptable floorplates. The scheme completed in late 2023 and has been awarded a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating, which recognises a high standard of sustainability and wellbeing for exemplary developments. It is also thought to be the largest‑ever BREEAM 2018 commercial project to secure this accreditation rating at design stage.

Gerald Eve is advising Boreal IM on the disposal of a 40,125 sq. ft. warehouse in Park Royal. Following their acquisition in 2022, Gerald Eve has supported Boreal in their extensive refurbishment of the warehouse to create a best in class, Grade A building incorporating numerous ESG initiatives.

The refurbishment achieved an EPC A+ rating and benefits from additional ESG measures such as a green living wall, EV chargers, LED lighting and rooftop photovoltaic (PV) panels. The PV system is expected to produce a 60-tonne reduction in CO2 emissions in year one, equivalent to planting 2,869 trees. The green living wall offers 120m2 of south-east facing living wall, producing 204 kg of oxygen, equivalent to 6 trees in terms of carbon sequestration.

We have undertaken EPC Uprating Assessments for 78 of SEGRO’s assets in the Greater London area totalling 3,000,000 sq ft of industrial space, advising on circa £17.5mn of EPC improvement works. Our EPC Uprating Assessments initially establish current baseline EPC ratings, and then create a digital twin of the buildings, which are modelled to run different improvement works scenarios. We then establish the most practical ways to improve the EPC ratings to raise asset value, ensure that the properties are compliant with current regulations, and comply with predicted changes to the regulations to avoid sub-standard and potentially stranded assets.

Our EPC Uprating Assessments involve the following services:

– Site inspection of each property to establish the construction and engineering services present and record data to model each property.

– Create a digital twin of each individual unit using EPC software which would establish the current/baseline EPC rating.

– Use the digital twin to model each unit to establish the most practical ways of improving the EPC ratings for each unit on a band-by-band basis to achieve target EPC ratings.

– Provide individual EPC assessment reports for each unit as an appendix and an overarching report covering all properties to present our findings. These include budget costs and feasibility of undertaking the EPC improvement works, strategic approach to the improvement works and guidance on exemptions and potential financial penalties of sub-standard properties.