FMJ.CO.UK 11 BELGRAVE ROAD CASE STUDY
JUNE 2022 25
there is a strong focus on sustainability, ESG
and energy e iciency. Owners, landlords
and occupiers of buildings have a duty to
make thoughtful decisions to drive positive
environmental impact and help meet UK
targets to reach net zero carbon emissions
by 2050. To meet these goals, the UK’s
commercial real estate sector has to reduce
its energy use by 60 per cent by 2050.
Accreditations like NABERS UK, BREEAM
and others are gaining momentum and the
government is also introducing regulatory
changes. The Department for Business,
Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) proposals
for a six-star sustainability rating will assess
energy in-use and hold the industry to
account through mandatory reporting
requirements.
NABERS UK
Engineering consultancy Max Fordham
was selected to act as strategic
sustainability consultant, designing a
net zero scheme, leading the WiredScore
Platinum and SmartScore Platinum
targets as well as the NABERS UK process.
Max Fordham led on making sure that
all elements of the design process for 11
Belgrave Road adhered to the highest
standards of environmental performance;
environmental firm Delta Green advised
on the design stage BREEAM ‘Outstanding’
rating, and Ekkist, one of the leading
consultancies in the UK for WELL Certification
advised on targeting WELL Platinum.
NABERS UK is a collaboration between
NABERS Australia and the Better
Buildings Partnership, along with scheme
administrator BRE. It adapts an established
and highly successful tool in Australia
for the UK and provides a rating
of one to six stars for building
e iciency, evaluating criteria
across energy, water, waste,
and indoor environment and
benchmarking performance
against similar buildings.
NABERS UK’s ‘Design for
Performance’ programme
enables developers and
project teams to target an
energy rating at the project
design stage, verifying it once the building is
operational.
The 5.5 NABERS UK rating demonstrates
that this o ice has a design, commissioning
and handover process that can deliver
industry-leading energy use. The project
team also worked hard at reducing
embodied carbon at both design and
construction stage. With Max Fordham’s
approach and modelling based on the RICS
whole life carbon analysis and the UKGBC
net zero carbon buildings framework, 11
Belgrave Road will achieve 466 kgCOe/m
whole life carbon, 38 per cent better than
the RIBA 2030 Challenge.
Max Fordham will act as Sustainability
Champion, providing a 12-month a ercare
period following the occupation of the
building to support the building users as
well as providing guidance to the facilities
manager.
NABERS 5.5 Star Rating features:
» Domestic hot water is supplied from a
water sourced heat pump and a calorifier with
electric immersion heaters – these recover
heat from the ambient loop
» Each air-source heat pump operates under
its internal controls to maintain the heating or
cooling flow set point (18°C/25°C)
» The building is fully electric, setting a new
standard for operational carbon. In addition,
350m of high e iciency Photovoltaic solar
panels on the roof will reduce CO emissions
by 35 per cent and supply renewable energy
for the building
» A comprehensive rating achievement plan
that sets a process for the commissioning
and handover and a ercare of the project
to ensure that the building is operated in
accordance with the design parameters
LINKING SUSTAINABILITY AND
OCCUPANT WELLBEING
In addition to NABERS UK, the project
benefits from other sustainability and
wellbeing features:
» 35 per cent of the existing structure will
be maintained, with additional materials
largely prepared o -site
11 Belgrave Road has been an
exciting opportunity to deliver a
ground-breaking, landmark o ce
building for the next generation of
occupier. By investing time and e ort
to pre-certify its credentials, we are
demonstrating real value rather
than just intention.”