• North West region leads the way on new trial for energy efficient development

England’s leading regeneration specialist, Priority Sites, has chosen Merseyside to trial energy saving techniques which will aim to achieve the highest rating on Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), which are due to come into force next year.

While the EPC’s grading system, which rates the energy performance of commercial buildings, is yet to be finalised, it is expected to use similar assessment criteria to the industry standard BREEAM*. 

Priority Sites is already fully up to speed on energy-saving technology as all its developments achieve a ‘Very Good’ BREEAM* rating as a minimum. However, the developer is now aiming for an ‘Excellent’ rating to secure the higher EPC grade.

The regeneration specialist is now kicking off a national pilot project in the North West, at Brookfield Business Park in Fazakerley, to investigate the feasibility of an ‘Excellent’ rating.

For Priority Sites, which specialises in delivering commercial premises for the SME marketplace, meeting an A-grade EPC on its units can present a greater challenge than on larger scale developments.

John Boanas, Development Director for Priority Sites explains: “The majority of our developments are aimed at the SME marketplace with multiple occupiers on any one site. Therefore the logistics and cost of achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating can present a greater challenge than on larger, single occupancy industrial units.

“The key to achieving this difficult rating will be to operate close working relationships with the relevant bodies. Traditionally energy saving and sustainable construction methods add to the cost of the development, but we believe that by partnering with sustainability experts, the design team and the building contractor at an early stage we can keep any additional build costs down to a minimum and in turn, produce buildings for occupiers that are both energy and cost efficient.

“It will certainly be a tough challenge. We will need to meet exacting standards on the efficient use of recyclable materials and energy efficient systems, as well as tight construction standards, but we are determined to reach the required level and position Priority Sites ahead of the rest of the field in the development of SME premises.”

Priority Sites, which is a joint venture company between the Royal Bank of Scotland and English Partnerships, is no stranger to introducing renewable energy sources into its developments. For instance, in May, work started on a 155,000 sq ft industrial scheme on Merseyside where 10% of the energy supply will be provided by wind power.

The Priority Sites Business Park on the site of the Vesty factory at Bootle, close to Aintree racecourse is due to complete next April and will incorporate a free-standing 20kw wind turbine and 46 building-mounted turbines to supply energy to the scheme’s 17 industrial and four hybrid units.

As well as contributing to a reduction in energy costs for each unit, there is the potential of exporting any surplus power via the distribution network to generate income for occupiers.

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