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Turley helps PLP deliver its first Net Zero Carbon Ready speculative logistics development

PLP’s Net Zero Carbon Ready 343,000 sq ft warehouse at Smithywood, Sheffield, will be completed in September and the developer plans to deliver all future speculative builds to the UK Green Building Council’s (UKGBC) Net Zero Carbon Ready standard.

Working with our sustainability team and carbon neutrality and climate finance experts Natural Capital Partners, PLP targeted the Net Zero Carbon Ready scope during 2019 and incorporated this standard into the Smithywood specification. To achieve the Net Zero Carbon Ready standard, PLP has assessed carbon emissions from construction through life cycle assessment (LCA) of materials and products, and reduced these emissions through the inclusion of materials with a lower carbon footprint. PLP will mitigate remaining construction carbon emissions to net zero by funding high quality carbon offset projects, enabling the achievement of CarbonNeutral® development certification through The CarbonNeutral Protocol.

Third party validation and public disclosure of net zero carbon construction at Smithywood will be made at practical completion in accordance with the UKGBC Framework. Working with the Turley sustainability team and Natural Capital Partners, PLP targeted the Net Zero Carbon Ready scope during 2019 and incorporated this standard into the Smithywood specification.

To achieve the Net Zero Carbon Ready standard, PLP has assessed carbon emissions from construction through life cycle assessment (LCA) of materials and products, and reduced these emissions through the inclusion of materials with a lower carbon footprint. PLP will mitigate remaining construction carbon emissions to net zero by funding high quality carbon offset projects, enabling the achievement of CarbonNeutral® development certification through The CarbonNeutral Protocol. Third party validation and public disclosure of net zero carbon construction at Smithywood will be made at practical completion in accordance with the UKGBC Framework.

The building is also designed to promote energy efficient and low carbon operation, with solar photovoltaics and air source heat pumps and 100% LED lighting contributing to a predicted Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of A(15). Further design measures including roof strengthening will allow the operator to install additional solar photovoltaics and battery storage in future to further enhance operational building performance. This approach to delivering a Net Zero Carbon Ready building enables the operator to maintain net zero carbon in operation through appropriate renewable energy supplies in accordance with UK Green Building Council guidance.

Colin Morrison, Senior Director, Head of Sustainability at Turley, said:

‘We are proud to have supported the delivery of PLP’s commitment to climate leadership at Smithywood.  As long standing members of the UKGBC involved in the development of their Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework, this project showcases our complementary capabilities in building performance, embodied carbon and the commercial delivery of net zero buildings.”

Jeremy Greenland, CEO at PLP, said:

"PLP is committed to deliver best in class, sustainable and future-proof units. With a useful life of 30-50 years, producing Net Zero Carbon Ready warehouses at no extra cost to occupiers is a big step forward. Incorporating additional design flexibility to enable them to transition to Net Zero Carbon operations more cost effectively should mean our developments stand the test of time."

Tom Popple, Senior Manager, Climate Change and Sustainability at Natural Capital Partners, said:

“The built environment is looking for pioneering climate leaders that can move beyond compliance and take the urgent climate action now to reduce carbon emissions to net zero and achieve carbon neutrality; this best in class approach is a testament to the vision and ambition of all involved”.

22 June 2020