Carbon efficient schemes planned for Southwark

Paving the way for a more sustainable construction industry, CIT and Foster + Partners have revealed plans for what is said to be London’s first ever net-zero carbon workplace and commercial hub at Colechurch House (pictured above), on the south bank of the River Thames.

A few hundred metres away, developer Landsec and contractor Laing O’Rourke have signed a pre-construction services agreement (PCSA) for the final design and planning of the construction of Timber Square (pictured below). This scheme is said to be 10 years ahead of UKGBC net-zero carbon targets for energy intensity reduction.

Located next to London Bridge, Colechurch House will replace a redundant 1960s office block to provide 46,200m² of mixed-use space.

The planned development will transform the public realm creating an abundance of imaginative landscaped green spaces and will bring together state-of-the-art offices; high quality, affordable, work and arts spaces; while also providing greatly enhanced connectivity from London Bridge station to the Thames riverfront and wider area.

Over 85% of the site is dedicated to open public space in the form of three distinct landscaped areas, revealing new vistas and views to the historic Southwark Cathedral and St Olaf House.

The workspaces also incorporate winter gardens towards the east and west on each level. The vegetation travels up through the winter gardens to the roof terrace, creating breakout spaces for the offices below.

Environmentally responsive façades incorporate solar shading, ventilation, light shelves, water catchments and photovoltaics.

A start date is yet to be confirmed for the £195M Timber Square scheme, which comprises around 34,300m² of mixed-use space, including 32,500m² of grade A offices, affordable workspace, roof terraces and an enhanced public realm bringing new connections and open public space to the Bankside area of Southwark.

The development will retain circa 90% of the existing building and use a hybrid steel frame and timber structure, significantly reducing embodied carbon, construction traffic, demolition waste and local air pollution. Low carbon and recycled materials will also be used across the development.

Commenting on Laing O’Rourke’s appointment, Landsec’s Head of Development, David Heaford, said: “We are delighted to be working with a globally-recognised contractor to deliver this exciting, sustainable development which focuses on connecting communities within a net-zero carbon scheme.”