New "green" HQ for the Environment Agency
October 6, 2008
The Environment Agency has announced that the "greenest development in Bristol" will become its new national headquarters from late 2010.
The Agency estimates it will save £180,000 per year by relocating to a smaller, more energy-efficient building. The move is part of the Agency's plan to consolidate its operations from three sites in the area (Aztec West, Westbury on Trym and Twerton, near Bath) into a single site.
The Government has given its approval and contracts have been exchanged, so the Agency's new HQ will be at Westmark's Cabot House in central Bristol. Cabot House is situated on a brownfield site of low ecological value.
The new building will be constructed in such a manner as to satisfy the Building Research Establishment's Environmental Appraisal Method (BREEAM) criteria for excellence, making it one of the greenest office buildings in the UK. The 70,000 sq ft building will house up to 1000 Environment Agency staff.
It will incorporate features such as:
- a natural ventilation system
- a rainwater harvesting system
- on-site renewable energy sources, such as solar power
- a green management plan to minimise the use of energy and water, and reduce the waste going off site
Recycled material will be used in over 50% of the building's construction and fitting out. The Environment Agency wants it to be carbon neutral by 2012.
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