Trafford Council’s executive approved the draft design code at its meeting last Monday and is now holding a public consultation on the document. The consultation will run until 25 September.

The guide sets out principles for designing houses, apartments, tall buildings, and commercial properties, as well as public realm.

Following a place-led approach, the code requires developers to demonstrate how their designs have been influenced by the surrounding context and how they enhance surroundings.

Cllr Liz Patel, Trafford Council’s executive member for economy and regeneration, said: “The design of our homes, streets, and town centres has a big impact on people’s lives.

“The Trafford Design Code has been drawn up to ensure future buildings and developments in our borough are of the highest quality design.”

Proposals for the public realm should include safe active travel routes, trees and planting, on-street parking, street furniture, and play areas.

Pitched roofs are preferred for houses, along with porches, to avoid monotonous design.

For apartment buildings, the design code highlights that communal spaces, well-defined entrances, and active frontages should be considered to bring the community together.

Commercial properties and tall buildings, classed as those over six storeys, should be spaced apart and enhance views, the code states. These buildings should also provide natural and designed landscapes, open spaces, and planting to soften the landscape.

Production of the code follows Trafford Council’s award of £160,000 by the Office for Place last year. Along with 24 other councils, the local authority was asked to produce a model design guide that other councils around the country could draw on.

Trafford Council’s draft document has been shaped by a number of community and stakeholder consultation events and workshops, with public consultations held last September and November.

Another round of consultation and developer forums are planned to launch next month, as well as further residents’ drop-in sessions in September.

Cllr Patel said: “The Trafford Design Code sets the standards of what we want to see in terms of the design of new places and buildings.

“It puts people at the heart of design decisions and will have a positive impact in our neighbourhoods for years to come.”

The post Trafford seeks feedback on design code appeared first on Place North West.

Of the £118m given by the government’s Environment Agency, £61m will go towards building up sea defences between Little Bispham, Bispham, Gynn Square, and Cocker Square.

The remaining £57m is meant for the council’s Blackpool Central Area Beach Nourishment Scheme, which will see the replacement of sand that had previously been lost to the sea. This nourishment scheme has seen a jump in funding, having originally been set for £12m.

Blackpool Council’s executive will be meeting on Monday to discuss procurement tactics for these two projects. The council does not want to be beholden to use the Environment Agency’s Collaborative Delivery Framework – instead, it is recommended for executive members approve a tactic of using the framework where appropriate and then using alternative coast protection framework contractors if needed.

“In light of the scale and size of the coastal defence schemes to be delivered, it is appropriate for the council to have flexibility in terms of the use of all appropriate delivery frameworks available in order to ensure value for money,” a council report reads.

Both coastal defence projects are to be delivered between now and 2027.

The post Govt invests £118m to save Blackpool beaches appeared first on Place North West.

Eden is one of only two new buildings in the entire country to achieve that star rating from BRE, the other being British Land’s plot F2 at Canada Water in London. A NABERS Design for Performance target rating is determined through an independent design review. The highest possible score is six stars.

While Eden has a 5.5-star NABERS Design for Performance award, it will take a year for it to secure the same NABERS Energy Rating. That is because the building will have to be monitored over the course of 12 months to ensure it meets the performance standard.

The 115,000 sq ft Eden sits off Stanley Street in Salford’s New Bailey district and is being delivered by English Cities Fund, a joint venture between Muse, Legal & General, and Homes England. Coming in at 12 storeys, the Grade A office building will be capable of running completely on renewable energy when it is operational.

Other energy efficiency initiatives include lifts that add power to the building’s electrical grid whenever they are used, air-source heat pumps, Passivhaus standard insulation, and a series of prop-tech initiatives.

ECF is also at work reducing the embodied carbon of Eden. By using recycled steel and cement replacements, Eden’s embodied carbon footprint has been placed at 662kg/sqm of CO2. That is on the lower end of the embodied carbon scale, with the Institution of Structural Engineers estimating that embodied carbon for new office buildings is usually between 500kg/sqm and 900kg/sqm of CO2. The building also boasts a 43,000 sq ft living wall as its facade.

Bowmer + Kirkland is the main contractor for the Make Architects-designed project and is aiming for a late summer completion.

• READ MORE: Eden’s epic living wall is nearly complete – but how will it work?

Phil Marsden, director of project management in the North West for Muse, described how the 5.5-star NABERS rating fits in with Eden’s genesis.

“Eden’s creation was motivated purely by the ambition to build the UK’s most sustainable and environmentally considerate commercial building,” Marsden said.

“We are thrilled with the result and have learnt so much; learnings we look forward to sharing with our sector to help build a brighter future, together.”

The NABERS achievement was also welcomed by Mayor of Salford Paul Dennett. He said: “Our city has a proud history of innovation, from the first steamboat to the first swing aqueduct, and we are thrilled to add Eden to that list – a sustainable endeavour Salfordians will be working hard to add to for the benefit of our city and future generations to come.”

Prior to Eden, the building with the highest NABERS design score in Greater Manchester was NOMA’s 4 Angel Square, which has a five-star design rating from BRE.

Eden may be the first to crack the 5.5-star barrier, but it is unlikely to be the last. Bruntwood Works’ Ev0 in Didsbury is also aiming to secure the prestigious NABERS rating.

The post ECF’s Eden shatters NABERS rating record in North West appeared first on Place North West.

Place North West has assembled two panels of experts to delve into best practices for new-build schemes and larger retrofit projects.

Get Tickets

Moving past the ‘why’ and onto the ‘how’, Sustainability in practice is a must-attend for those in the built environment, as being green has moved on from a bonus to a requirement.

Sustainability in practice will be held on 6 July at the Science & Industry Museum in Manchester.

The event is sponsored by Net Zero UK, Telcom, CampbellReith Consulting Engineers, Wates, Northstone, and HBD.

Confirmed speakers:

• Bernadette Barry, head of planning and sustainability, Northstone
• John Searle, strategic director of place, Salford Council
• Laura Boyle, asset and development manager, Kinrise
• Cllr Gavin White, executive member for housing and development, Manchester City Council
• Lee Treanor, director, HBD
• Alison Haigh, associate, Buttress
• Claire Dixon, deputy chief executive, Plus Dane Housing
• David Sparks, head of Manchester studio, EPR Architects

At Place, we know the true value of bringing the property community together. Those attending the event can expect ample time for networking, enabling you to make that next great business connection. In addition to the pre-panel breakfast, you can also expect breaks in between sessions and a post-panel lunch.

Book your ticket today by using the form below. If you cannot see the form, please contact events@placenorthwest.co.uk.

The post BOOK NOW | Sustainability in practice appeared first on Place North West.

WELL Platinum status is awarded by the International WELL Building Institute. In determining the wellbeing rating of a building, the institute examines the quality of the air, water, and light in a structure. It then goes further to investigate and evaluate thermal comfort, sound, and materials – as well as community spaces.

A WELL Platinum score has been a target for The Spine since the Grade A office building’s inception, with WELL principles factored into its designs by AHR Architect. AHR also crafted the 14-storey building to meet BREEAM Excellent standards, a sustainability measurement system.

Officially being designated as one of the healthiest buildings in the UK is fitting for The Spine, which is the Northern home of the Royal College of Physicians. The Spine was developed by RCP and Liverpool City Council.

Sitting at the top of Brownlow Hill in Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter, The Spine was built by Morgan Sindall Construction. The delivery team for the £35m project included multidisciplinary engineer Arup and fit-out contractor Overbury.

CBRE’s ESG team was charged with securing the WELL Platinum rating.

Coming in at 206,300 sq ft, The Spine is the third largest building in the UK to be WELL Platinum. It falls behind Arax Properties’ 280 Bishopsgate (355,300 sq ft) and CBRE’s Henrietta House (224,800 sq ft).

In addition to The Spine, the only other WELL Platinum-certified spaces outside Greater London are JLL’s office within the Landmark Building in Manchester and 400 Longwater Avenue in Reading.

Liverpool City Council Leader Cllr Liam Robinson described The Spine as “a shining symbol of a new Liverpool”.

“The Spine also reflects our ambition of being a world leader in academic research in science and health and the quality of its design speaks of that confidence to achieve that position,” he said.

Reflecting on the WELL Platinum award, Robinson added: “It is a magnificent achievement for all those who helped the council design and build [The Spine] to receive such prestigious industry recognition. I applaud everyone for giving the city such a magnificent building for people to work in, enjoy, and be inspired by.”

The post Liverpool’s £35m Spine secures prestigious WELL Platinum appeared first on Place North West.

Sefton Council’s cabinet will meet this week to reaffirm its commitment to repairing the grade two-listed Southport Pier, the second longest in the UK, as it works to find the money needed for the repairs. 

An investigation into the state of the pier, which has been closed to the public for the last six months over safety concerns, has found that more than 25% of the decking needs replacing. 

As a result, the council estimates that the cost of the full refurbishment could exceed £13m, which is £10m more than the £3m that Sefton originally agreed to borrow for the project. 

Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council, said the extent of the work required and the cost increase were “sobering”. 

“It is going to be a huge and costly scheme,” he said. “But the cabinet is supportive of the proposal for a full refurbishment project.” 

Sefton Council is planning to engage “as quickly as possible” with potential funders and stakeholders to find the money for the project, according to a statement. 

Maher said: “Given the scale of investment needed and the unprecedented financial pressures the council is under, there is a clear need to engage with other funding agencies and specialist heritage and pier-related organisations to identify opportunities to provide financial support and ensure this project will deal fully with all current known maintenance, refurbishment, repair and replacement requirements.” 

The leader also put to bed suggestions that the cost of the project could force the council to close the pier for good. 

“We have to consider all options available to us, but the council is not supportive of any suggestion of closing the pier permanently,” he said. 

“It has been disappointing to see some casting doubt on [the pier’s] future and talking down the council’s commitment to it.” 

The post Cost of Southport Pier refurb rockets to £13m  appeared first on Place North West.

Built for the Commonwealth Games in 2002, Manchester Aquatics Centre has been closed to the public since November 2021 after approval for the refurbishment project was granted. 

Now, the first part of Manchester City Council’s £31m project to upgrade the venue and improve its sustainability credentials has completed in time for the venue to host the World Para Swimming Championships in late July. 

Improvements to the building include enhancing the health and fitness facilities, upgrading the swimming pools, and the installation of new digital and sustainable technologies to provide a more modern and efficient building. 

The scheme forms part of the city council’s ongoing efforts to decarbonise its estate and achieve zero carbon emissions by 2038. 

The existing gas heating system has been replaced with air source heat pumps, while 1,006 solar panels have been installed on the roof of the centre, alongside a battery system that will allow the MAC to use solar energy. The building’s lighting and air handling systems have also been replaced. 

Phase two of the refurbishment will begin in September and will include upgrades to all basement areas, programmed over the next 12 months. 

Manchester City Council is paying for the upgrades. A total of £29.1m is being raised through borrowing and the remaining £1.3m through capital receipts from land and building sales, according to a proposal signed off by the council in 2021. 

Cllr John Hacking, Manchester City Council’s executive member for skills, employment and leisure, described the reopening of the centre as a “momentous occasion for the city”. 

“The return of the Aquatics Centre is a key strategic goal for the city council, we want to ensure that our communities have access to state-of-the-art facilities in Manchester and, make sure that we’re looking after the wellbeing, both physical and mental, of our residents.   

“Thanks to the city council’s large investment, the Aquatics Centre is now better equipped to suit the needs of our residents, who can now benefit from a wide range of brilliant sports equipment, aquatic upgrades, spa facilities and changing space.” 

The scheme has also received £3m from the government’s £1bn Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. 

The revamp is designed by Pozzoni Architecture and was carried out by Kier Construction. Ridge and Partners is the structural engineer for the project and TACE is the M&E consultant.    

Manchester Aquatics Centre is operated by MCRactive and Greenwich Leisure and meets the demand of six community swimming pools, according to the city council. 

Andy King, chief executive of Manchester Active, said: “The centre is a key player in contributing to Manchester’s reputation as an international city of sport and remains one of the most important legacy outcomes of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in the success of GB Para Swimming.   

“Not only will we welcome back a thriving events programme with national and international reach and significant economic value to Manchester, but also more than 700 school children each week and more than 900 people on public programmes.”

The post Manchester Aquatics Centre to reopen after £31m revamp  appeared first on Place North West.

Eden’s 350,000-plant living wall will be the largest of its kind in Europe, according to ECF. The wall is fast nearing its July completion date, with ECF chair Sir Michael Lyons and Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett attending a ceremonial “planting out” to commemorate the occasion on Wednesday.

“Eden has already become an icon for our city; an embodiment of creative strength and statement of positivity in a city with a proud heritage of innovation,” Dennett said at the time.

“More than that though, it symbolises everything we need to embrace going forward in terms of community and sustainability. We all need to do our bit to look after each other and the world around us.”

Resisting claims of greenwashing, ECF has touted the wall’s biodiversity, carbon storage, and insulation credentials. So how will this living wall work in practice – and how did it come about?

Place North West spoke with Eden’s living wall expert ANS Global and developer Muse, one of the three companies that make up ECF alongside Legal & General and Homes England, to find out more.

ECF chairman Sir Michael Lyons, Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett, and TLT partner Graeme Orchison were among those who attended the planting out ceremony. Credit: via RMS

The Eden dream

The £36m Eden, situated off Stanley Street in New Bailey, has been ambitious from the start.

“This place-changing building has been designed to push the envelope in terms of sustainable regeneration and highlight what can be achieved when like-minded partners work together to deliver something truly special for the benefit of everyone,” said Ella Woodward, development manager at ECF.

The office block is on track for a BREEAM Outstanding rating and a WiredScore of Platinum. ECF is also gunning for the project to secure a coveted NABERS score of 5.5 stars.

When it comes to wall, boosting biodiversity is one of the wall’s main jobs, according to Phil Marsden, a director at Muse who led the conception of Eden.

Accordingly, the living wall is more than just plants, it also contains bird boxes and bug hotels.

Marsden worked closely with Make Architects to craft the perfect design for Eden.

“When we were considering materials for the facade, the idea of cladding the materials in plants was discussed between myself and the architect,” Marsden said.

“When we looked at the research around the benefits of living walls, we were impressed with the benefits to air quality, reduction in urban temperatures, attenuation of water, noise reduction and improvements to the thermal mass of the building,” he continued.

“What better way to clad a building like Eden. Rather than using brick, stone or concrete, we could use plants grown in this country,” Marsden said.

Plant science

Each of the 32 species of plants on Eden was chosen to fulfill a specific purpose.

“Many years ago, a plant was a plant,” said Niall McEvoy, green infrastructure consultant at ANS Global. “All plants clean the air. All plants do this. All plants do whatever – but they don’t.

“Some plants are wonderful at creating biodiverse habitats,” McEvoy said. “Other plants are brilliant at absorbing carbon and producing oxygen. Other plants are phenomenal at trapping particulate matter.”

At Eden, biodiversity was one of the project’s main focuses. Many of the plants were selected for their ability to provide pollen for bees, nectar for birds, and habitats for insects. If all goes to plan, this will see a biodiversity net gain of 174%, according to ECF.

Plants chosen for biodiversity include cowslip, wild strawberries, St John’s Wort, and bluebells.

Others were chosen for their ability to sequester pollution, a task plants perform naturally through photosynthesis – a process that sees them absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Certain species of plants are particularly adept at absorbing and breaking down pollutants. At Eden, plants such as box, Sutherlandii, and snow-white wood-rush are being used for these purposes.

In the early days of living walls, the theory was that a plant would require less maintenance if its root system was restricted.

“That was proven to be wildly inaccurate,” McEvoy said. So the living walls of today, like the one found at Eden, opt for a different approach. Giving plants more room to grow strong root systems, which will enable them to be more resilient.

As for growing the plants themselves, it’s nothing new.

“A living wall is a method to allow plants to grow, like a flower pot is a method to allow plants to grow,” McEvoy said.

Maintenance

Some may argue that the energy costs behind maintaining a living wall the size of Edens’ negates the benefits. While McEvoy strongly disagreed, he did concede that there is no getting around the fact that maintaining a living wall – like maintaining a garden – requires effort.

Irrigation is the only part of the wall that requires power, McEvoy said. Eden’s system will run once a day on average for around five minutes per each of the wall’s 48 irrigation zones. On the hottest days, the system may run twice, while in the winter it may only run once every two or three days, according to ANS.

At Eden, most of the water for the plants will come from rainwater harvested on the roof. The irrigation system will also be backed by the mains in case there is a particularly dry spell.

Innovations in technology also allow for remote checks on the irrigation system to see if it is operational and running smoothly by enabling those monitoring to spot problems as they occur.

ANS will also do monthly visual health checks to make tweaks to the irrigation system, and then prune the wall back once a year. McEvoy estimates that pruning the wall could take more than two weeks given the façade’s size.

While he admits there is an energy cost, McEvoy contends it is worth it.

“There aren’t many items that we produce that give us as many benefits as green infrastructure,” he said.

Beyond the wall

The living wall aside, ECF has been ambitious with its vision for Eden. The 115,000 sq ft office block is to be powered completely by renewable energy – part of which will be generated on-site with solar panels.

Eden is meant to be operationally net zero when it comes to carbon emissions. Accordingly, the space will use air-source heat pumps to provide both heating, cooling, and hot water. Fittings have been installed that are geared towards low water usage and have leak detection technology. There are ventilation technologies that will help bring more fresh air into the offices.

Even the lifts will get in on the action, boasting regenerative tech that allows them to feed energy back into Eden’s power grid when the elevators are in operation.

The living wall, in ECF’s Woodward’s words, is just “the icing on the cake of the building”. It catches people’s attention and creates excitement – but it is not the entirety of the dessert.

“The building is so well designed,” McEvoy added. “It brings in all these elements around sustainability, however, you can’t see all of those items.

“You can’t see how well it has been insulated,” he continued. “You can’t see the CO2 sensors cleaning the area. But what you can see is the largest living wall in Europe…

“You take away the living wall and that building is still the model other buildings should adhere to. The living wall just highlights it.”

What’s next?

Main contractor Bowmer + Kirkland is on track to complete work on Eden in September.

Paul Sykes, regional director at Bowmer + Kirkland, noted that it had been a busy few weeks for Eden, adding that “we are now watching the building come to life”.

He added later: “It’s not very often that we get to build something that will continue to grow in front of our eyes and provide a home not only for the people working in the building but also a habitat for a diverse range of creatures.”

Law firm TLT is already signed on to take the top two floors of the 12-storey Eden, having signed a 15-year lease for 20,000 sq ft in January.

“Our Manchester team is very much looking forward to its move to Eden – a move which cements our commitment to the region whilst also representing our commitment to sustainability, and a people-first culture where employees have the space and support to produce their best work,” said TLT partner Graeme Orchison.

“Our values are very much reflected in Eden’s ground-breaking approach that will lead the way for the future workplaces that are both better for our people and the planet.”

The post Eden’s epic living wall is nearly complete – but how will it work? appeared first on Place North West.

This equates to around 3,100 applications a year for Active Travel England to review, according to government estimates.

Making ATE a statutory consultee will help ensure the proper active travel infrastructure in future developments. Though it will be consulted on applications, ATE will not have any powers to control a planning application’s outcome.

“Designing activity back into our neighbourhoods and creating places where children have transport independence is achievable – it just needs smart planning,” said active travel commissioner Chris Boardman.

“As a statutory consultee, ATE will work with planning authorities and developers to help them ensure new estates give people what they need to get fresh air and exercise, save money on petrol and help fight climate change.”

Industry professionals in the North West welcomed the decision to make ATE a statutory consultee.

“It’s good to see that Government is committed to ensuring active travel is fully considered within placemaking and creation more generally, rather than just being seen as an infrastructure issue,” said Tom Roberts, technical principal at Mott Macdonald.

“The relationship between how people choose to move and urban density especially has been long overlooked in the UK,” he continued.

“It will be interesting to see how these new teeth will play out within a predominantly low-density volume housebuilding model, and with local highways teams who have experienced considerable cuts to their budgets over recent years.”

Annabel Precious, regional director of Civic Engineers, had similar thoughts, calling the move a “step in the right direction”.

“It not only raises awareness and understanding of active travel and its benefits but it also allows Active Travel England to take a proactive role in encouraging and training local authorities who are the ones ultimately determining the planning applications,” she said.

“Hopefully this is just a first step, as it’s only by including active travel in all future developments that we can really start to change behaviours and mindsets and ensure our towns and cities are designed around people and not the car.”

Neil McAlpine, director of transport and movement planning at LUC, was also positive about the change.

“We often find that active travel is not at the heart of the project from the start, often due to differing priorities from the design and the local authority teams,” he said.

“The inclusion of Active Travel England is a positive step forward to encourage placemaking and active travel to be a key component of a site design from the very outset. This would have positive benefits for all as the health and wellbeing impacts of active travel will be embedded into the site design.”

The post Active Travel England must now be consulted on major planning apps appeared first on Place North West.

In conversation with Place North West senior report Dan Whelan at UKREiiF, Purcell partner Jo Bartle and head of sustainability Laura Baron discussed the importance of getting to know a building intimately before any work takes place. 

This knowledge, they said, can prevent problems rearing their heads further down the line and ultimately keep costs down. 

“Some of these buildings have been standing for hundreds of years,” Bartle said. 

“They’ve stood because they’re well-built and well-understood. We want to make sure that that happens in the future.” 

The pair spoke about the biggest challenges that arise when working with heritage buildings, the role conservation can play in addressing the climate crisis, and pondered over whether a blanket ban on demolishing buildings should be considered. 

“It’s definitely the right conversation,” Baron said. “Whether or not it’s the right solution is still up for debate.” 

Watch the video at the top of this article, or on the Place North West Youtube channel, to listen in on the discussion. 

You can find out more about Purcell at purcelluk.com. 

The post VIDEO | Protecting and promoting heritage assets  appeared first on Place North West.

Naturally, the government has looked to introduce regulatory packages that are designed to gently spur these industries into action. The most prominent of these from an asset management perspective is the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards regulation, which is a new piece of legislation that requires a minimum Energy Performance Certificate rating of ‘E’ for rented properties. If a property isn’t able to meet the standards required, landlords can be liable for fines and other commercial penalties, making this a truly hot-button topic for any asset manager to be on top of.

At Landwood Group, we are acutely aware of the increasing pressures on landlords and occupiers to embrace sustainability and achieve net-zero carbon emissions. It can be a big step to get everything right, especially when you have a number of areas to improve or a large portfolio of properties to manage, and choosing to work with an asset management expert can be a great way to lessen the burden on yourself to meet these new requirements.

Meeting the MEES

While meeting the MEES will require some investment, especially for older properties, for a landlord or asset manager they can also be seen as a worthy investment. Energy-efficient properties are attractive to tenants and buyers, often leading to higher rental income and property values, making it a change that is often worth the money.

To meet MEES and net-zero targets, landlords may need to invest in improvements like insulation, heating system upgrades, double-glazing, and renewable energy sources. While these investments can take time to complete, and often have upfront costs, they can also result in long-term savings through reduced energy bills and increased property values.

Luckily, there are steps that can be taken to help without significant investment. These steps will create good operational practices that will ensure upgraded building systems will have the maximum impact once they are introduced.

One of the steps is to implement effective building performance management. Building performance management encompasses the effective measurement and management of systems and processes such as a property’s HVAC, energy consumption and indoor air quality, all seeking to reduce operational costs, and create comfortable, healthy spaces for occupants.

This approach to asset management is only made more important by the still eye-watering costs associated with energy and gas. Energy efficiency is a critical factor in reducing these bills, so any steps that you can take to make your properties more energy efficient will go a long way to keeping your pounds in your pocket.

Additionally, by focusing on this vital aspect of property management, we can optimise building systems. This, in turn, contributes to achieving net-zero carbon emissions, improving asset value, and meeting the ever-growing expectations of sustainability-driven tenants and investors.

In response to these challenges, Landwood Group is committed to helping our landlord clients navigate the complexities of sustainability initiatives and legislation. We firmly believe that getting the basics right first, and building on a strong operational platform is key, and that addressing building performance management is not only essential but can be a quick and powerful win in this journey towards a more sustainable future.

Future of building performance management

For the modern asset manager, technology has enabled them to supercharge their understanding of the properties they manage, spotting problems and solving issues far faster than ever before.

For example, to support Landwood Group’s commitment to building performance management, we have invested in advanced IoT-based remote monitoring platforms, such as 4D Monitoring. This innovative solution enables us to establish a baseline for good building operation and provides us with the measurement capability that is essential to managing performance.

Real-time data and analytics allow us to swiftly identify inefficiencies, collaborate with service partners, and ensure a shared commitment with all stakeholders to managing and optimising building performance. We have a comprehensive picture of every factor that affects a building’s performance, from air quality through to heat generation, and can react swiftly to rectify any issues that can impact your properties and damage your bottom line.

Why effective asset management practices are vital

The potential impact of net-zero and sustainability initiatives on landlords is significant. Landlords who fail to adapt to these changing expectations may face reduced asset values, lower occupancy rates, and even penalties for non-compliance with regulations such as MEES. By embracing building performance management, our clients not only stay ahead of legislative requirements but also enhance their assets’ long-term value.

At Landwood Group, we know that in order to ensure that we are always delivering the best asset management experience for our clients, we have to be on top of the latest changes in the sector. We always ensure that our team is up-to-date with the latest training and education programmes to better understand building systems, energy management strategies, and the benefits of remote monitoring. Additionally, we work closely with our service partners to align our objectives and foster a culture of sustainability and continuous improvement within our properties.

By utilising building performance management and leveraging advanced remote monitoring platforms, Landwood Group is dedicated to helping our landlord clients navigate the path to sustainability. Through our efforts, we can support the achievement of net-zero carbon emissions, improve asset value, and contribute to a greener, more responsible world.

• Anna Main is director of commercial asset management at Landwood Group

The post Asset managers’ guide to hitting net zero appeared first on Place North West.