The retrofitting of a 21,284 sq ft warehouse has achieved an EPC A+ and BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, whilst also delivering reduced upfront embodied carbon of 130 tonnes CO₂e, compared to undertaking a new build industrial unit.

We undertook SEGRO’s Edinburgh Avenue industrial unit in Slough acting as designer, project manager and principal designer, alongside providing additional services including M&E, solar PV consultancy, quantity surveying and measured surveys.

The refurbishment included a number of ESG initiatives, such as the installation of rooftop solar PV panels, new energy efficient LED light fittings and sensors throughout, an advanced heating and comfort cooling system, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, EV charging points and biodiversity features such as green walls and animal habitats. In addition, the project incorporated reclaimed and reused building materials – from carpet tiles through to WC trough basins – in an effort to reduce the embodied carbon.

Following the project’s completion, SEGRO commissioned an embodied carbon report assessing the building’s whole lifecycle. It found that compared with the LETI 2030 industry and average new build industry benchmarks, the refurbishment had significantly lowered total embodied carbon by 318 tonnes CO₂e. The upfront embodied carbon refers to the carbon footprint of construction materials, whereas total embodied carbon is associated with materials and construction processes throughout the whole lifecycle of a building. Categories in the assessment include substructure, finishes, building services and external works.

Commenting on the project, Carl Sablon, Hollis Director and Head of Industrial, said: “SEGRO came to us with a brief that specifically requested a refurbishment of its existing unit, rather than replacing it with a new build, in order to significantly reduce the embodied carbon on the project. We have a long-standing relationship with SEGRO, working with them to help deliver a number of the most innovative and sustainable industrial buildings in the UK. It is extremely satisfying to know that the efforts made to refurbish Edinburgh Avenue in the most sustainable way have been recognised.

“We are very proud of our role in delivering structures that are best-in-class and built for the long-term. This wouldn’t have been possible without SEGRO’s sustainability vision and the dedication of our construction partners across the supply chain.”

James Craddock, Managing Director at Thames Valley, SEGRO, added: “This scheme at Edinburgh Avenue is a great example of how these existing buildings, where appropriate, can be transformed into more modern, efficient, greener spaces that enable low-carbon growth now and into the future.”

We appointed Pexhurst to act as main contractor on this project.