Sep 7 2007
Calthorpe House, the £40 million BREEAM* ‘EXCELLENT’ rated Grade A office building, will commence construction this month.The 105,600 sq ft (9,810 sq m) scheme will be built by HBG Construction, raising the bar for sustainable office accommodation in the city, and was supported by £30 million funding from Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets.
Developed by Nettleton Gate Ltd, a joint venture between Calthorpe Estates and Marshgate Developments Ltd, Calthorpe House was awarded the BREEAM Offices ‘EXCELLENT’ rating in July by BRE (Building Research Establishment). It is the first of its size to be awarded the BREEAM Offices ‘EXCELLENT’ rating in the city and also the second development to achieve the accolade within the city. The environmental assessment is based on evidence including contract documentation and design drawings.
Earlier this year Calthorpe Estates achieved Birmingham’s first BREEAM Offices ‘EXCELLENT’ rating for 19 George Road, a contemporary office building in Edgbaston. The development tailored for dedicated chartered tax advisers, Shaws, establishes Calthorpe Estates as pioneering developers of environmentally friendly working environments within the Midlands.
Calthorpe Estates Commercial Director, David Povall, said, “Businesses are more aware than ever before of the need to operate responsibly. The buildings they occupy give an important first impression to customers, employees and the wider community hence the growing recognition of the importance of a sustainable workplace. We are proud to have achieved the first BREEAM ‘EXCELLENT’ rated office building in Birmingham and are delighted that Marshgate will be working with us to drive forward the second, which illustrates our long-held commitment to sustainable development on the Estate.”
Calthorpe House was designed by Birmingham architects, Webb Grey and will be built by HBG, one of the leading construction companies in the UK, which itself has a clear focus on minimising the environmental impact of its activities. The building will feature large, open floor plates of to up 22,200 sq ft (2,062 sq m), offering the flexibility of space much sought after by occupiers. DTZ are letting agents for the scheme.
Calthorpe House is one of a new breed of office buildings being championed by Calthorpe Estates to attract the best employers to Birmingham and meet the needs of occupiers now and in the future. Such measures being included are a 27% improvement on the latest statutory requirements for carbon emissions, the use of solar control glass, high efficiency condensing boilers and chillers, a ‘free cooling’ ventilation system and water efficient fittings – all of which will benefit the wellbeing of occupiers and can help reduce their occupancy costs.
Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets Property Relationship Manager, Ross Mackay explained: “We are delighted to have been able to support Calthorpe Estates and Marshgate with a £30 million funding package in what is the latest stage of our 100 year relationship. Our involvement in the Calthorpe House project is clear evidence of our appetite to fund property across the Midlands and we are proud to have been able to play our part in realising this landmark sustainable office development.”
Fronting the junction of Calthorpe Road, close to Five Ways island, the new Grade A office building is in an important landmark position, replacing the former 1960s buildings Donne and Nettleton Houses, which were demolished in the spring. Located within 500 metres of a station and on a well-served bus route, it has good transport credentials, in addition to the 42 cycle spaces that will be provided, all as part of a Green Travel Plan to accompany the building.
David Povall concludes, “This building represents best practice at every level. As well as a tremendous range of sustainable features, from the recycling of construction waste to rainwater harvesting to supply the WCs, it has zero ecological impact as 100% of the site previously consisted of existing buildings and hard standing. It will deliver 105,600 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation to the market in early 2009 and, more importantly given its sustainable credentials, it will continue to deliver benefits for its surrounding environment for years to come.”