Environmental Consultancy

We successfully delivered a beautiful new office for Taylor Wessing in Liverpool, project managing a Cat B office fit-out that has achieved a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating for sustainability. We also provided pre-lease due diligence, M&E engineering and ESG consultancy advice as well acting as CDM Principal Designer.

Keen for a presence in the North, international law firm Taylor Wessing chose Edward Pavilion, a Grade I Listed building in a UNESCO World Heritage site at Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock, as its new home in this vibrant and flourishing city.

Delivering this project on the top floor of a Grade I Listed former warehouse building for a client with incredibly high standards during a global pandemic was a huge challenge. We overcame technical concerns around acoustics and natural light, along with the constraints brought about by the listed status of the building: the method of any new fixings into the existing structure, for example, had to be pre-approved by the conservation officer, which required careful time management and forward-planning.

With other works being undertaken simultaneously elsewhere in the building, ensuring full compliance with CDM regulations and other health and safety legislation was paramount – particularly in terms of creating a COVID-secure environment without adversely affecting the programme or budget from any reductions in manpower.

The decision to target a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ sustainability rating for the fit-out was made after the commencement of the project, so we worked quickly to adapt the design and specifications of fabric and mechanical and electrical elements to deliver the performance required. By drawing on advice from our in-house M&E experts and working in true partnership, the project team was able to deliver the changes required, all whilst keeping the project on programme and budget.

Innovations in design came from the unique use of photographic portraits around the space in the form of impactful, full-height images laser-printed onto acoustic insulating canvases, which was related to the client’s sponsorship. The layout and flow of the space were based on the principles of navigating an art gallery, so while the space works functionally, users also have a ‘journey of discovery’ as they travel through the environment.

With varying work spaces, including formal desks, meetings booths, casual meeting areas and spaces for quiet work, the new office provides a flexible and agile working environment for the Taylor Wessing team, who can choose to work in the best way for them. In addition, break out areas have provided an environment which is much more conducive to collaboration and the flexible future of office working.

This project was Winner of 'Fit-out/Refurbishment of the Year' at Insider Liverpool City Region Property Awards 2021 & BCO Awards 2022.

We were appointed to deliver a comprehensive purchaser’s Technical Due Diligence (TDD) report for Anchor Retail Park, a rare and strategically located mixed-use asset in London’s East End. As one of the few remaining inner London retail parks, the site offers significant landholding and long-term potential for capital enhancement and alternative uses.

Our multidisciplinary team worked closely with the client, DTZ Investors, to understand their acquisition priorities and deliver a robust technical assessment under tight time constraints. The site comprises a terrace of three-unit retail warehouses and a terrace of eleven four-bedroom houses.

Technical Due Diligence delivery

We undertook a full suite of Technical Due Diligence services, coordinating across disciplines to ensure a seamless and efficient delivery. In line with the client’s requirements, our Building Surveying, Mechanical & Electrical, and ESG teams produced detailed technical reports, including:

• Building Fabric and M&E Building Survey Reports
• Reinstatement Cost Assessment
• Level 5 EPC Assessment
• Peer review of a Phase 2 Environmental report
• NZC Audit with Decarbonisation Pathway

To ensure full regulatory and safety compliance, we also consulted our in house fire engineering specialists, who reviewed the site’s fire strategy and provided expert input to support the client’s risk profile.

Challenges and solutions

One of the key challenges was the complexity of the site, which included both commercial and residential elements.
Operating under tight acquisition deadlines, we mobilised quickly and delivered all services within the required timeframe. Our ability to coordinate multiple disciplines as well as specialist external consultants – while maintaining quality and rigour – was critical to the success of the project.

Another challenge was ensuring comprehensive environmental and fire safety assurance. Our team addressed this by conducting a peer review of the existing Phase 2 Environmental report and engaging fire engineering specialists to validate compliance and identify any risks.

Opportunities and outcomes

Anchor Retail Park represented a rare opportunity to acquire a substantial landholding in inner London, with strong existing use value and significant potential for future redevelopment or repositioning.

Our reporting provided the client with a clear understanding of the site’s current condition, regulatory standing, and long term potential. This enabled informed decision-making and supported a confident acquisition strategy.
By delivering a thorough and integrated due diligence package, we helped de-risk the transaction and position the client to unlock the full value of this unique asset.

To learn more about how we can help on your next retail project get in touch with Kevin Howes.

The tenant operated a petrol filling station which had caused ground contamination to an adjacent shopping centre car park. Remedial works were attempted by a third party but only partially successful, so we were required to recommend a remediation strategy.

On behalf of the landlord, we reviewed the historical package of environmental reports and developed and agreed the proposed remediation strategy with the third party. We ensured that the proposed remedial works were appropriately managed, therefore protecting our client’s interest as the landlord, without causing undue disruption to the use of the car park and shopping centre.

Hollis provided vendor TDD services to Quadrant, including environmental due diligence prior to the £57m sale of the 194,000 sq ft retail warehouse to a Saudi-based investor Sidra Capital.

We prepared a vendor pack of Technical Due Diligence including Phase 1 Environmental Assessment. Our assessment included a review of previous site investigations relating to the property, which was historically a former tyre factory before it was redeveloped as a retail park.

Challenges included having to decipher and accurately piece together a significant volume of information, a complex planning history and numerous phases of remedial works. Discussions with the Local Planning Authority allowed Hollis to confirm the complete discharge of planning conditions relating to the investigation and remediation of contaminated land at the time of redevelopment.

A significant volume of information including a complex planning history and numerous phases of remedial works. Accurately piecing together this information was challenging.

Hollis supported Northern LGPS and LPPI on the £1.1bn acquisition of a 5,478-home portfolio spanning 71 sites across the UK, delivering a rapid pre-acquisition technical due diligence programme.

Our multi-disciplinary team provided building safety and fire advice, environmental consultancy and comprehensive building surveys - including M&E and drone roof inspections - ensuring clear risk visibility across this large-scale, complex portfolio.

Our client asked us to undertake energy optimisation reports on their Irish portfolio of properties to identify any areas that could be improved from an energy performance perspective.

We surveyed the buildings and reviewed the existing energy efficiency measures in place then produced a detailed report outlining our findings, which identified any areas that could be improved to reduce the landlord’s operating costs and
improve the energy efficiency of the building.

Our report identified immediate areas where the energy systems within each property could be optimised without any capital costs and recommended low cost energy efficiency measures that could be undertaken in the short term. We also provided a high-level feasibility on the use of renewable technologies and created a fully costed roadmap for future plant replacement/refurbishment. It is anticipated that by undertaking these straight forward recommendations and improvements that the energy performance of each property could be improved by 5 to 15%.

We are delighted to have provided a multi-service offering to our client City Developments Ltd, enabling them to mitigate risk in their acquisition of St Katharine Docks in London. Our service offering included Technical Due Diligence, Mechanical and Electrical, Vertical Transportation, ESG Consulting, Environmental Consulting, and Reinstatement Cost Assessments. 
 
An iconic site, St Katharine Docks Marina is a 525,449 sq ft riverside and marina office and leisure estate located in the heart of Central London. Originally constructed circa 1830, St Katharine Docks has a rich history in the British trading empire, facilitating the trade of luxury goods. The effects of the Second World War led to the regeneration of St Katharine Docks in the 1970s to what it is today. 
 
St Katharine Docks is arranged over four principal buildings: Devon House, International House, Commodity Quay and Ivory House. Additional ancillary buildings including the Marble Quay, Dickens Inn, Cloisters Walk, and the Haven building complete the site alongside the marina, carpark and public realms areas. Since its redevelopment, St Katharine Docks now attracts over 5.9 million visitors per annum. 
 
We were instructed to inspect, report and provide commentary on the condition of the properties and public realm demised to St Katharine Docks. Providing a multi-service offering, a dedicated team of building surveyors, specialist mechanical, electrical and lift engineers, and both environmental and ESG consultants inspected the properties. A pre-acquisition survey report was produced detailing the condition of the building in conjunction with an M&E report, ESG report, full phase 1 Environmental report and a Reinstatement Cost Assessment for the entire site. 
 
Given the scale and complexity of the site, it was imperative that we coordinated our services to inspect all required areas within the transaction timetable. Out inspections remained sensitive to the requirements of the vendor, who wished for minimal disruption to the operations of the occupiers. Showing excellent client care and being sympathetic to both our client and vendor requirements, we were able to overcome all challenges, all whilst adopting a ‘one team’ approach and working collaboratively with all stakeholders. 
 
We are proud to have delivered for our client on such an iconic and historic area of real estate in central London.